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