Sergei Prokofiev

Donald Macleod explores the music of Sergei Prokofiev and tells
the story of his American dream.


After a series of revolutions in his native Russia, the young
composer Sergei Prokofiev made the decision to leave his homeland
and to head to the United States in search of fame and fortune.
His years in the United States would turn into some of the most
tumultuous of his life. Across this week, Donald explores how
those years in exile and how it would prove to be one of his most
challenging periods professionally, financially and personally.
His life was set against the turbulent events of the first half
of the twentieth century, and forces beyond his control so often
intervened to scupper his grand ambitions.


Music featured: Violin Concerto No 1 in D, Op 19 (3rd movement)
Seven, They Are Seven, Op 30 Sonata for piano No 2, Op 14 (3rd
& 4th movements) Visions Fugitives, Op 22 (selection)
Symphony No 1 in D major, Op 25 (Classical) Tales of an Old
Grandmother, Op 31 Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op 34 Prelude from
10 pieces for piano, Op 12 Concerto No 1 for piano and orchestra
in D flat major, Op 10 (excerpts) Scythian Suite, Op 20 The Love
for Three Oranges Symphonic Suite, Op 33bis (Marche) Four Pieces,
Op 32 (selection) Piano Concerto No 3 in C major, Op 26 Five
melodies for violin and piano, Op 35bis (selection) The Fiery
Angel, Op 37 (Act IV Scene 1) Sonata No 3 in A minor, Op 28 The
Gambler: Four Portraits from the Opera, Op 49 (Portrait No 1;
Alexis) Piano Concerto No 2 in G minor, Op 16 Quintet in G minor,
Op 39 (Selection) The Prodigal Son, Op 46 (Scene 2, excerpt)
Chout Suite, Op 21 (excerpts) American Overture, Op 42 Peter and
the Wolf (excerpt) Five Poems, Op 36 (selection) The Love of
Three Oranges Symphonic Suite, Op 33bis Romeo and Juliet, Op 64
(excerpts)


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Glyn Tansley for BBC
Wales


For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Sergei Prokofiev
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00093cn


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z