Sergei Prokofiev

Sergey Prokofiev

Prokofiev's time is a change of two epochs and a complex socio-cultural situation of the XX century. There is a change of cultural paradigms, where "old" and "new" traditions exist simultaneously, and discrepancies in the conceptions of the outside world are increasing.

Prokofiev's creative activity is intense, fruitful and multifaceted: almost all musical genres are represented: operas, ballets, oratorios, cantatas, symphonies, chamber vocal and instrumental compositions, music for theater and cinema… The number of created works is also impressive – over 130 opuses.Sergei Prokofiev graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory as a composer in 1909 and as a pianist in 1914, was awarded a gold medal and was awarded the A.G. Rubinstein Honorary Prize - the Schroeder piano. During his studies, he met Sergei Rachmaninoff, Nikolai Myaskovsky, Igor Stravinsky.

His first performance as a composer and pianist took place in 1908 in St. Petersburg at a concert of the circle "Evenings of Modern Music". The responses testified to the undoubted talent, originality, even extravagance of the young musician's playing. The premieres were accompanied by scandals, the composer was immediately ranked among Cubists and futurists ("Scythian Suite", the opera "The Gambler" by F.M. Dostoevsky). He was radically at odds with the habits of the listening audience.Prokofiev's work is divided into three periods: early, before leaving abroad (1908-1918); foreign (1918-1933) and domestic (from the mid-1930s to 1953). What was created at different times?

In the early period: Piano Sonatas No. 1-No. 4, Etudes, Concertos No. 1-No. 2, Toccata, Sarcasm, Evanescence.

From 1918 to 1935 S. Prokofiev lived abroad. There the operas "Love for Three Oranges", "The Fiery Angel", ballets "Steel Skok", "Prodigal Son", Symphonies No. 2-No. 4 were completed.

Since 1936 Prokofiev settled in Moscow. The war period: the opera "War and Peace" based on the novel by L.N. Tolstoy; the ballet "Cinderella" based on the fairy tale by Sh. Perrault; Symphony No. 5; Piano Sonatas No. 6-No. 9. Later compositions: ballet "Stone Flower" based on the materials of P. Bazhov's fairy tales, oratorio "On Guard of the World", Symphony-Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Symphony No. 7.In addition to the recognition of his compositional skills, Prokofiev is rightly ranked among the outstanding conductors and pianists. He was distinguished by a courageous manner of playing, an "iron" metrorhythm, high energy, the predominance of sharp, even sharp, playing techniques. He belongs to the galaxy of the greatest musicians of the XIX and XX centuries, among whom are the names of F. Chopin, F. Liszt, S. Rachmaninov... Prokofiev's composing and performing activities are inextricably intertwined.

With. Prokofiev retains priority for the style of constructivism: toccata percussive interpretation, rejection of romantic sensuality, accentuation, extension of dynamic frames, condensed laconism: a minimum of textured layers and ornaments, linearity. In principle, this is the path that many masters of the XX century followed, in particular, P. Picasso, V. Mayakovsky, B. Bartok or A. Honegger.Prokofiev's innovation arose as a protest against the refined sophistication of Impressionism. The composer contrasted melodic and rhythmic vagueness with composure and clarity; fluidity – squariness and dissection; semitones and half-light - definiteness of colors and shades. The excessiveness of the "open" emotion was also not close to Prokofiev, whose aesthetic ideal tended to chaste restraint and strictness.

Smirnova Natalia Mikhailovna,

Professor of the Department of Special Piano at the Saratov State Conservatory named after L.V. Sobinov, Candidate of Art History, Honored Worker of the Higher School of the Russian Federation

The scientific and Educational Center "Erudite" is holding a remote Olympiad on the works of S.S. Prokofiev "The Bold Innovator", dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the composer's birth. Olympiad tasks for different age categories are available on the Center's website. Responses are accepted until October 31. The results will be announced by November 15.