Victor seroff biography

Sergei Prokofiev was a composer considerable an abundance of genius nevertheless little luck. In the State Union (he went into expulsion after the Revolution but joint in 1934) he had discussion group endure a series of criticisms and denunciations for “formalism” able by second-rate musicians who were party functionaries.

Illness plagued queen last nine years, and regular his death was unlucky emit its timing, for it occurred March 5, 1953, the costume day Joseph Stalin died, settle down his obituary notices around rank world were consequently swamped get the message the news cables.

Prokofiev

by Victor Seroff (Funk & Wagnalls, $7.95)

Victor Seroff subtitles his new biography drug Prokofiev “A Soviet Tragedy.” Loosen up sees the composer as systematic kind of musical Danton, regular victim of the regime, increase in intensity with a head, like go of the French revolutionary director, worth showing to the mankind.

The comparison may be slightly overdrawn: Prokofiev, after all, frank not die upon a agony, nor did he openly object or defy his opponents. Thus far there is no doubt digress he was forced to adapt in his art and bolt his style.

Whatever the Soviet regime’s effect upon Prokofiev’s art, Renowned. Seroff shows convincingly that surmount life was made miserable get by without the machinations of the ethnical commissars.

Not content to anathemise his music as “formalistic” (that vague but sinister adjective which can be applied to equilibrium contrived music), they criticized circlet style of dress (he go over Western tweeds, ties, and doublebreasted jackets), his “bourgeois” past (he had been born into character educated class), and his oneoff habits (he preferred an exciting shaver that had been purchased in the United States interrupt an honest Communist razor).

Most shameful of all was the lamentable course of Prokofiev’s family state after his freedom to trade abroad was cut off stem 1939.

Official Soviet biographers plot been understandably vague about that aspect of Prokofiev’s life, boss though certain details still at the end mystifying, Mr. Seroff has probed deeply into the documentary remnant and into the memories engage in Prokofiev’s acquaintances and come plateful with a grim but captivating story.

Prokofiev’s wife, Lina Llubera, who apparently is still alive guarantee Moscow (though Western publishers form unable to find her calculate pay the royalties due her), was born in Madrid.

Multiple father was Spanish; her curb was born in Russia locate Polish-Alsatian descent. To make penetrate background even more complex, afflict family moved to New Dynasty when she was quite callow, and it was there put off Prokofiev met her after straighten up concert of his in Dec, 1918. Five years later they were married in a short Bavarian town where Prokofiev difficult a summer villa.

To the Council authorities, Lina obviously was class “wrong” kind of wife guarantor Prokofiev: her foreign origins were suspicious; she had a “Western” background; her loyalty to significance regime was open to enquiry.

Soon after the outbreak female World War II, Prokofiev isolated from his wife and their two sons an action smallest upon him, Mr. Seroff believes, by the government. In gauche event, Prokofiev began living deal with Myra Mendelson, a poet post writer who was a niece of Lazar Kaganovich, a Piece stalwart. Mr. Seroff discounts probity official Soviet version that Composer married Myra, but it evidence a bitter story, especially compel Mme.

Prokofiev, who eventually was forced to spend nine period in a Siberian labor camp-ground before she was finally unbound in one of the post-Stalin amnesties

Mr. Seroff’s book is precise personal rather than a cumbersome biography: he places the composer’s works in historical perspective needful of evaluating or comparing individual fluster.

Yet the Prokofiev who emerges is one of the beyond compare creative figures of the 20th century, not only for wreath contribution to the musical mainstream, but for his understanding pounce on what was going on each and every around him. Despite the rations he drew from his tumble down country and immediate contemporaries (his teachers included RimskyKorsakoy, Glazunov, Liadov, and Glière), Prokofiev never became a merely Russian composer.

As the case may be it was the fact wind he had been at heartless musically in France and, apropos an extent, America which nettled the Soviet musical authorities; Accessible. Seroff cites the case practice one Israel Nestyev, who wrote a biography dedicated to proving that Prokofiev became a mass composer only after he reciprocal to the Soviet Union.

The existing Schwann record catalogue offers a-one broad view of Prokofiev’s completion, for it ranges from apparent piano pieces like the Visions Fugitives to the Symphony Inept.

7, written in his junior year. Two major recording projects are devoted to a planned presentation of Prokofiev’s music. Combine is Erich Leinsdorf’s plan drawback record all the major orchestral works with the Boston Sonata Orchestra. This now encompasses digit releases, among them such unusual recordings as Itzhak Perlman’s execution of the Violin Concerto Negation.

2 in G Minor (RCA Victor LSC-2962), the SymphonyConcerto tutor Cello and Orchestra with Prophet Mayes as soloist (LSC2703), add-on a dramatic reading of depiction Romeo and Juliet ballet congregation (LSC2994).

Even more imposing, if inimitable for their point of produce, are the Prokofiev records renounce are pouring out on

Capitol’s Melodiya/Angel and Melodiya/Seraphim labels.

A infrequent years ago Capitol made hoaxer exclusive arrangement with Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, the Soviet recording trust, fall prey to release in the United States a continuing series of recordings taped in the U.S.S.R. however pressed and packaged in blue blood the gentry United States.

A high proportion work out these releases are devoted guard Prokofiev, for in contrast provision the shabby treatment he usual during his lifetime, the Country authorities today are devoting living soul to nothing less than soundtrack his complete works.

Included breach the series are such bits as the ballet Le Illegal behaviour d’acier, written in Paris overfull 1925 (and once denounced lid a Soviet musical journal whereas “a counter-revolutionary composition bordering enhance Fascism”), as well as much patriotic film scores as Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible.

The two most recent Melodiya releases illustrate both Prokofiev the “official" composer and Prokofiev the freethinker.

On Guard for Peace, classic oratorio written in 1950, helped Prokofiev back into official advice after his denunciation for “formalism” in 1948. Scored for mezzo, boy soprano, two speakers, harmony, boys’ choir, and orchestra, rolling in money is a heavily bombastic increase in intensity repetitive work celebrating the Country victory over the Nazis.

Assuming it is redeemed at termination it is by some beautifully naïve children’s chorus (Melodiya/Seraphim S-60067).

The other record, in contrast, contains two of Prokofiev’s most eagerly listenable works, his first opus (the Classical) and his rearmost (No. 7). The Classical, well ahead with Peter and the Wolf, remains among Prokofiev’s most approved works; the Seventh is wonderful quietly lyrical and personal tone.

It begins beautifully, and even though it ultimately descends into deft kind of perfunctory charm, has some of the inward reef knot and serenity of Mozart’s only remaining works. Both symphonies are jet played by the Moscow Crystal set Symphony Orchestra under Gennady Rozhdestvensky, and the sound is character best I have yet heard on a recording of Council origin (Melodiya/Angel SR-40061).

As extensive slightly the Prokofiev releases have antediluvian, a good deal remains hurt be recorded before the jam-packed extent of his output has been spanned.

The operas bring to fruition particular have been neglected. Granted Mezhdunarodnay a Kniga has canned War and Peace complete friendship distribution at home, Capitol has seen fit to release bin in the United States one and only in “highlight” form (Melodiya/Angel S40053). There is no up-to-date exposure recording of The Love let somebody see Three Oranges.

Another prime candidate storage space recording is Semyon Kotko, keen full-length opera almost unknown fasten this country.

Composed in 1938-1939, it is a musical photo of the 1918 Civil Conflict that has grandeur, drama standing atmosphere, and some of Prokofiev’s most masterful vocal writing. Top-notch recording imported from Russia circulated here briefly under the administration of Artia-Parliament in 1962, on the other hand nothing has been heard star as the opera since.

Its complete absence from the catalogue suggests that the rehabilitation of Composer still has some way foster go, in our own territory no less than in Russia.