Sergei Prokofiev
FameRank: 4

"Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev" was a Russians/Russian composer, pianist and conducting/conductor. As the creator of acknowledged masterpieces across numerous musical genres, he is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century. His works include such widely heard works as the March from The Love for Three Oranges, the suite Lieutenant Kijé (Prokofiev)/Lieutenant Kijé, the ballet Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev)/Romeo and Juliet – from which "Montagues and Capulets/Dance of the Knights" is taken – and Peter and the Wolf. Of the established forms and genres in which he worked, he created – excluding juvenilia – seven completed operas, seven Symphony/symphonies, eight ballets, five piano concertos, two violin concertos, a cello concerto, and nine completed piano sonatas.

If you enjoy these quotes, be sure to check out other famous composers! More Sergei Prokofiev on Wikipedia.

When the Second World War broke out, I felt that everyone must do his share, and began composing songs and marches for the front. But soon events assumed such gigantic and far-reaching scope as to demand larger canvasses.

My mother had to explain that one couldn't compose a Liszt rhapsody because it was a piece of music that Liszt himself had composed.

Peter and the Wolf.

I played rather well - in any case, jauntily. My success was rather great and, I should say, no doubt unexpected.

I want nothing better, more flexible or more complete than the sonata form, which contains everything necessary for my structural purposes.

I thought with fury of the wonderful American orchestras that cared nothing for my music; of the critics who repeated for the hundredth time, 'Beethoven is a great composer,' while balking violently at new works; of the managers who arranged long tours for artists playing the same hackneyed programs fifty times over.