Do not stay too long
Donald Macleod follows Prokofiev as he tries to establish himself in America – with mixed results.
Donald Macleod follows Prokofiev as he tries to establish himself in America – with mixed results.
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 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.
After his first American commission, fate intervenes to put the composer in a very difficult position.
The Love for Three Oranges Symphonic Suite, Op 33bis (Marche)
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Neville Marriner, conductor
Four Pieces, Op 32 (selection)
Boris Berman, piano
Piano Concerto No 3 in C major, Op 26 (mvts 1 & 2)
Freddy Kempf, piano
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrew Litton, conductor
Five melodies for violin and piano, Op 35bis (selection)
Aylen Pritchen, violin
Yury Favorin, piano
The Fiery Angel, Op 37 (Act IV Scene 1)
Sergei Leiferkus, baritone (Ruprecht)
Galina Gorchakova, soprano (Renata)
Kirov Theatre Chorus and Orchestra
Valery Gergiev, conductor
Sonata No 3 in A minor, Op 28
Martha Argerich, piano
Producer: Glyn Tansley for BBC Wales
Last on
Music Played
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Sergey Prokofiev
The Love for Three Oranges Op.33b
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neville Marriner.- PHILIPS 4422782.
- PHILIPS.
- 3.
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Sergey Prokofiev
Four Pieces Op.32
Performer: Boris Berman.- CHANDOS CHAN8851.
- CHANDOS.
- 9.
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Sergey Prokofiev
Concerto No. 3 in C Major Op.26 - 1st and 2nd Movements
Performer: Freddy Kempf. Performer: Andrew Litton. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker.- BIS BISSACD1820.
- BIS.
- 9.
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Sergey Prokofiev
Five Melodies Op.35
Performer: Aylen Pritchin. Performer: Yury Favorin.- MELODIYA MELCD1002524.
- MELODIYA.
- 2.
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Sergey Prokofiev
The Fiery Angel Op.37
Performer: Kiev Chorus And Orchestra. Singer: Sergei Petrovich Leiferkus. Singer: Galina Gorchakova. Conductor: Valery Gergiev.- PHILIPS 4460782.
- PHILIPS.
- 6.
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Sergey Prokofiev
Sonata No. 3 in A Minor Op.28
Performer: Martha Argerich.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4795978.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 5.
Broadcast
- Wed 9 Oct 2019 12:00BBC Radio 3
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