Lieutenant Kijé, originally a film score from 1933, is based on a satirical story about a fictional lieutenant invented to cover a misunderstanding by Tsar Nicholas I.
Critical Reception
The 1930 premiere of Prokofiev's Fourth Symphony in Boston was not a success, and despite being better received in Paris, it never gained wide circulation.
Composition History
Prokofiev's Fourth Symphony is based on material from his earlier ballet, The Prodigal Son, which premiered in Paris in 1929.
Composition History
Prokofiev extensively reworked his Fourth Symphony in 1947, increasing its length by half and significantly revising both inner and outer movements.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Prokofiev believed some of his ballet material had greater potential in a symphonic form, aiming for the symphony to be perceived as distinct from its source work.
Composition History
The Fourth Symphony was commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky, principal conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, for their fiftieth anniversary.
Composer Biography
Sergei Prokofiev, the composer, was known for reusing and developing his musical ideas, often building upon previous sketches or material from finished compositions.
