A docudrama about one of the most prominent and independent composers of the 20th century.
Every fortnight, ‘The wayward Prokofiev’ devotes one hour to the life and work of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, undoubtedly one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.
Today: the second suite derived from the ballet ‘Romeo and Juliet’, which was certainly as successful as the original ballet. In addition, the opening movement from the opera ‘Lady MacBeth’ by Shostakovich. In early 1936, Stalin went to see this opera in Moscow, and two days later the Pravda denounced it as vulgar and barbaric. Prokofiev would later also suffer greatly from the cultural repression that was set in motion at the time.
Playlist:
- Sergei Prokofiev Suite for orchestra op. 64 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (1936) Novosibirsk Academic Symphony Orchestra led by Arnold Katz.
- Dmitri Shostakovich. Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk op. 29 (1934) London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ambrosian Opera Choir led by Mstislav Rostropovich featuring Galina Visjnevskaja, Nicolai Gedda, Dimiter Petkov anjd Werner Krenn, among others.
