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Russian composer, born april 23:rd 1891, died march 5:th |
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Russian composer, born april 23rd 1891, died march 5th |
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went far from smoothly, but the composing class became important. His |
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went far from smoothly, but the composing class made impact. His |
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period display more intensity and atmosphere. |
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period display more intensity than earlier. 1910 Sergei's father died and Sergei's economical support ceased. Luckily, at that time he had started making a name for himself as a composer, although he frequently caused scandals with his futuristic works. His first two piano concertos were composed at this time. 1914 Sergei left the academy, this time with the highest marks, winning him a grand piano. Soon after, he made a trip to London where he made contact with [Sergei Diaghilew]? and [Igor Stravinsky]?. During the first world war, Sergei returned again to the academy, now studying organ. He composed an opera based on Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel The Gambler, but the rehearsals were plagued by problems and the premiere 1917 had to be cancelled because of the february revolution. In summer the same year, Prokofiev composed his first sympohony, the Classical. This was Sergei's own name for the symphony, which was composed in a style inspired by e.g. Joseph Haydn. After a brief stay with his mother in Kislovodsk, Kaukasus, because of worries of the enemy capturing Petrograd, he returned in 1918, but he was now determined to leave Russia, at least temporarily. In the current russian state of unrest he saw no room for his experimental music and in may he headed for the USA. Arriving in San Francisco he was immidiately compared to other famous "exile" russians (e.g. [Sergei Rachmaninov]?) and he started out successfully with a solo concert in New York, leading to several further engagements. He also got a contract for the production of his new opera The Love for Three Oranges, but due to illness and the death of the conductor the premiere was cancelled. Prokofiev just had bad luck when it came to opera. The failure also cost him his american solo carreer, since the opera took too much time and effort. He soon found himself in financial difficulties and in april 1920 he left for Paris, not wanting to return to Russia as a loser. Paris was better prepared for Sergei's musical style. He reaffirmed his contacts with Diaghilew and Stravinsky. |
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