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Prokofiev
From his return to death
‘Soviet Composer’
• Khatchaturian said ‘In the Soviet Union the composer occupies a place of honour. He benefits by the aBenCon and solicitude of the people. His material comfort is assured. He knows that his work is necessary ad highly appreciated by Society. Moreover, he has, of course, a deep consciousness of his responshbility towards Society, towards history and towards humanity.’
• But had to remain accessible.
Meyerhold on Prokofiev
• ‘P’s lyricism is peculiarly shot through with a strong virility. It is not a world limited within itself. It is not the product of detachment form reality, not of insubstantail dreaming. Prokofiev’s lyricism is the outcome of his vital happiness; it is a man who has embraced life, and whose act of creaCon is taking palce at the very heart of life, rejoicing in all its problems’. (Samuel, 131)
Why did he return • Why did he return? Constant problems with geQng his work
performed in the West – many dissappointments in the 1930s. He worked Crelessly only to find his efforts come to nothing. In the Soviet Union he thought he would always be appreciated, wanted and performend.
• Work with Eisenstein a great draw. Big projects seemed possible. • Would be taken seriously as a composer. • Did he believe in the soviet project? – wrote lots of works in praise
of it and Stalin – but probably not – just a pragmaCc decision to help what he saw as flagging career.
• PatroiCsm – in view of the coming conflict – probably yes. • A disaster for his wife and family – however and he might have
foreseen this.
Romeo and Juliet 1936 • Music also extracted as a series of 3 suite for orchestra and piano piece.
• One of most popular of all classical ballets. • Commissioned in 1935 by Kirov. • Same Cme as Shostakovich’s 1936 denuncaCon. Put in tradiConal ending.
• Full ballet not produced unCl 1938 because of worries that it would not be acceptable. But it was. Revised version of 1940 is the one used today.
• Composed Peter and the Wolf around this Cme also and Ugly Duckling.
Romeo and Juliet
Pavan for Montegues and Capulets
Alexander Nevsky • Great soviet fim director Sergei Eisenstein – 1938. Depicts invasion of Novgorod in 13th century by Tuetonic Knights who are defeated by Prince Alexander (Nevsky). Did not stray into formalism. Got the Stalin prize in 1941.
• Famous BaBle on the Ice. Subplot by two warriors to win hand of Olga.
• Full of poliCc overtones and sub plots – German invaders, strong community minded Russians. Alexander a man of people, etc. AnC-‐clerical and anC catholic. Nevsky = Stalin.
BaBle on the Ice
Suite/Cantata from Alexander Nevsky 1939
• Mongolian Yoke. • C minor – simple tunes. StarCng chords – C minor – d unison. Held chords with diatonic tunes above – some chromaCc alternaCon. Excellent clear orchestraCon.
• Dynamics – lots of contrast and Accents. • Played as
Russia under the Mongolian Yoke
With Film
Arise Ye Russian People
Arise ye Russian People
• 4 part choir. • Firmly in C minor. • Simple rousing song and straighjorward. rhythms of choral parts.
BaBle on the Ice
War Years
• Increasingly isolated from the West. • His wife in despair – she constantly tried to keep her contacts with the west.
• Prokofiev and Lina driled apart and Prokovief took up with and marries a new woman (Mira Mendelssohn)
• Prokofiev keeps children. • Series of sickening sycophanCc works to please Stalin. (Cantata for the 20th anniversay of the RevoluCon; Simeon Kotko; Ivva the Terrible
• Cinderellla, War and Peace
Love of Precision • A methodical worker. • Wrote every day. ‘… he would compose every day, even when doctors ordered him to rest. It was impossible for him not to do so, and those days when he was forced to rest were for him the most painful ones.
• Loved science, maths, new technology – and above chess – played every day. Also gambling and bridge.
• Though sharp tempered he also tried to help and shield those close to him.
Symphonies
• Wrote 7 – the first and filh best know. 2 -‐4 seldom played and most avant-‐guard. 2 shows western influence
• Filh is ‘overflowing with humanity’-‐ addressed to masses of Soviet People. TradiConal Harmonies,
• Composed in Summer of 1944. Performed in Moscow 1945.
Filh Symphony
Second movement
Third Movement
Fourth Movement
Aler the War
• Prokofiev’s health began to fail. • He is aBacked with Shostakovich as a formalist in 1948 in Zhdanov degrees – never recovers.
• His new opera The True Man aBacked by decrees as formalist. He accepted criCcisms.
• Lived quietly protected by second wife. She was good at dealing with Soviet system.
• Tragedy of first wife Lina – and for his children.
Lina
• Became desperate to get back to the West – and started communicaCng with her family and old friends in the West.
• The KGB started to monitor and follow her. One night they picked her up and she was accused of being a western spy. Sent to labour camps for 10 years.
• She served her Cme and was let out and returned to life aler Stalin’s death.
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