Selected Letters of Sergei ProkofievOne of the most important and influential composers of the twentieth century, Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was also a prolific and gifted writer. Besides producing diaries, short stories, dramas, reviews, and the libretti for his own operas, Prokofiev conducted lively and frequent correspondence with family friends, classmates, and notable cultural figures in the Soviet Union and abroad. This engaging volume collects for the first time in English the most representative and enlightening of Prokofiev's letters, including some previously suppressed missives that have never before been published. Expertly translated and annotated by Harlow Robinson, the correspondence presented here covers Prokofiev's earliest years at St. Petersburg Conservatory, his extensive worldwide travels, and his return to Moscow. Among the correspondents are childhood friend Vera Alpers, harpist Eleonora Damskaya, ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev, theatrical director Vsevolod Meyerhold, Soviet critic Boris Asafiev, composers Vernon Duke and Nikolai Miaskovsky, soprano Nina Koshetz, musicologist Nicolas Slonimsky, violinist Jascha Heifetz, conductor Serge Koussevitsky, and film director Sergei Eisenstein. Prokofiev vividly describes, often with dramatic flair and a quirky sense of humor, concerts, performances, his compositions, political events, and meetings with other musicians and composers. His observations are peppered with musical gossip as well as eccentric, original, and disarmingly apolitical insights. Like his music, the writing style is laconic, brisk and tart, full of energy. Taken together, the letters provide a cultural and musical history unequaled in the correspondence of any othermodern composer. This indispensable edition will shed new light on Prokofiev's misunderstood life and career, illuminate his creative processes and aesthetic principles, and introduce his exceptional literary talents to those already captivated by his musical genius. |
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Aleksandr Alma-Ata already America April Asafiev Ballets Russes Berlin big hug Bolshoi Theater Boston Buffoon conducted conductor Damskaya Dear Boris Vladimirovich Dear Eleonora Dear Nikolai Yakovlevich Dear Sergei December Demchinsky Derzhanovsky Diaghilev Eisenstein Ettal February Fiery Angel film finished full score Gambler Glazunov hope Igor Igor Markevich January June Kislovodsk kiss Koshetz Koussevitsky Leningrad libretto Lina Ivanovna Mariinsky Theater Meyerhold Miaskovsky Mira Mendelson Moscow Natalia Konstantinovna Nina Koshetz November October opera orchestra orchestral score PARIS XV performed Petrograd pianist Piano Concerto piano score piece planning play postcard premiere Prkfv Prokofiev is referring Ptashka Quartet received rehearsals RUE VALENTIN HAUY Russian Scythian Suite Second Concerto seems sent Serge Serge Koussevitsky Sergei Aleksandrovich Sergei Prokofiev Sinfonietta Sonata soon Souvchinsky Soviet composer staged Steel Gallop Stokowski Stravinsky telegram Third Symphony Three Oranges trip USSR Vernon Duke Violin Concerto warmest greetings write written wrote York