Sergei Prokofiev: list of works. The most famous works of Prokofiev

The great Russian composer, conductor and pianist Sergei Prokofiev left a big mark in the history of world music. Despite the difficult fate, the People's Artist of Russia created brilliant musical works. The famous "Petya and the Wolf", the ballet "Cinderella", "The Fifth Symphony", "Romeo and Juliet" - all this was written by Prokofiev. List of the composer's works can be listed for a long time: from piano and symphonic to musical-stage. Each of them is distinguished by the specifics of musical characteristics, deep expression of images. Many said that Sergei Sergeyevich had heard a plastic image in his sounds, which reflected his uniqueness, his talent. In the field of opera and ballet, he was not equal.

Creativity of the great composer

Prokofiev, whose list of works is diverse, rich and bright images, for a long time lived outside the territory of our country. Many connoisseurs of his talent thought anxiously about whether the composer would be able to "resist" foreign pressure in music and not immerse himself in writing sophisticated French compositions, extinguishing his element of the true Russian soul. The great pianist gave himself completely to art, giving his masterpieces to a wide section of the population, thanks to which he received such a wide world recognition, despite the new musical trends.

Prokofiev was noted for such a natural attitude to music that the works, he said, were born from life itself: from everything that surrounded him, it excited and pleased. The composer said that he never sought the themes of his works, everything turned out by itself. One of the most striking works created in the homeland was a delightful ballet titled "Romeo and Juliet". All images are so realistic that it captures the spirit, and music is distinguished by its extraordinary depth and strength, accurate drawing of every detail and element.

Tragedy and immortal love in the ballet "Romeo and Juliet"

The basis of the dramaturgy of the ballet Prokofiev in question is the persuasiveness and strength of opposing, opposite sides (hatred and boundless love). The antagonistic principles collide, conflicting, developing in parallel, which causes strong feelings from what has been heard. The images of love in the ballet symbolize Juliet and her lover. The composer focuses on the passionate love theme, which is confirmed by the introduction of the orchestra. This is the bright side. The dark one is represented by the struggle of two families, which is expressed by a straightforward musical theme, more coarse and even ominous.

Each of the presented images is different dynamics, rapid movement. Especially this applies to the main character, who from a young girl who does not know the worries and hardships of the world around her, turned into the end of the act into another person. In the image of Juliet there is a hot temper, a passionate soul and an insanely loving heart.

Mass scenes of the ballet are written out by Prokofiev as colorful and bright as possible. These are the moments of the morning awakening of the city, and carnival days with a jubilant crowd. However, this is just a background for the main events, contributing to the multiple dramatization of history and certain certain moments, for example, the battles between Tibald and Romeo.

This magnificent work did not immediately resonate with the audience. Many believed that music was completely inappropriate for the ballet, and Prokofiev (whose list of works can be seen below) was repeatedly denied performances at the Bolshoi Theater. In the early forties of the XX century, the ballet was staged. This was influenced by the symphonic suite, created from different numbers of Romeo and Juliet.

Piano miniatures and operas

In the same period with the tragedy, the composer creates famous miniatures called Children's Music. They hear the sounds of native nature, cheerful children's motives, you can hear the elements of pioneer songs in the form of marches, which later expressively and vividly reveal themselves in "The Petya and the Wolf". Known will become and such works as "The Tale of a Stone Flower". In this ballet the audience remembered plays called "Waltz of Diamonds", as well as "Evening".

Opera - a separate chapter of the composer's work. It was because of them that they sounded completely new for the listeners of Prokofiev. The list of works is as follows:

• Sonatas for pianoforte.
• "On guard of the world."
• "Fire Angel".
• Concerts for instruments with orchestra.
• Semyon Kotko.
• Seven symphonies.
• "Tale of a stone flower."
• "Betrothal in a Monastery."
• "Alexander Nevskiy".

Also outstanding are: "Cinderella", "Love for Three Oranges", "War and Peace", "Petya and the Wolf", "Romeo and Juliet", music for films.

Famous symphonic children's fairy tale

One of the most popular in pre-war time was the symphonic work-fairy tale called "Petya and the Wolf", and it was known far beyond our country. Later the animator and director Walt Disney used this music in his cartoon project. The work differs from all other works written by the composer, his melodiousness and chant, in the tale there is a pronounced rhythmic pattern. Prokofiev in his work acts as not just a wise creator, but also a storyteller, distinguished by wit and a cheerful mood. Before him was set a clear goal - to introduce young listeners to various musical instruments, to display all the possibilities of the main components of the symphony orchestra.

The author himself repeatedly pointed out that every hero of a work displays a certain musical instrument, and vice versa. For example, a cat is a clarinet, a small bird is a flute, a grandfather is a bassoon, and a duck is a oboe. The wolf appears before listeners in the form of three French horns and chords, and the main character - Petya - a quartet of strings. The children immediately determined the shots of the hunters, guided by the loud sounds of the drums and timpani. In many school programs and still include this work in order to identify children a whole group of instruments of the symphony orchestra.

In the musical tale, every image is very clearly pronounced: a slight flutter of birds is heard, the slithering of a cunning cat and its purring, grumbling of Petya's grandfather or the terrible roar of a gray predator is clearly determined. The composer repeatedly noted that he was very fond of children, so the creation of miniatures gave him great pleasure. In addition to "Petit and the Wolf", the "Winter Fire" suite, as well as "The Chatterbox", was still remembered, based on the verses of the famous Agniya Barto.

Music for films and performances

In the year that marked the centenary of the death of the great poet Pushkin, the composer created music for the film called "The Queen of Spades." In addition, his name could be seen on the playbills "Eugene Onegin", as well as "Boris Godunov." Creating this magnificent music, Prokofiev discovered a new side - a strong interest in the main events of the history of the country. It was during this period that the audience enthusiastically accepted such works as Alexander Nevsky and Semyon Kotko. They hear powerful notes of the courage of the heroes of that era, the approach of terrible and terrible events.

In the tenth years of the last century, the composer pays special attention to contrasts, various means of expressiveness, rhythmic pressure, and at the same time unique lyricism and elegance of melodies in his works. It is worth noting also the share of humor and irony, which are present in many works of that time. Such masterpieces include the following:

• "The Tale of the Jester" (ballet, staged in the 20's in the French capital).
• "Fleeting" for pianoforte.
• A few romances for poems by Akhmatova.
• 2 sonatas, written for the piano.
• First concert for violin (accompanied by orchestra).

The composer and pianist was in constant creative inspiration. His works are so contrasting that it is sometimes difficult to determine whether one author wrote them. Vivid examples: "Love for Three Oranges" and "On Guard of Peace", "Petya and the Wolf" and "Romeo and Juliet" and so on.

Symphonic Suites and Songs

Many critics noted Prokofiev's extraordinary talent for works written "for the country." For example, the work "Lieutenant Kizhe", which became the music of the eponymous film in the 30s of the last century, or the suite called "Egyptian Nights" - the musical basis of the performance staged at the Moscow Chamber Theater in the same years. Before the great pianist returned to his homeland in the early 30s, the Second Concerto for Violin and Orchestra was written, in which you can catch a lot of happy melodic accents.

Particular attention should be paid to the song "The White Swan", which the author has always personally performed and did it with such enthusiasm that every listener could feel all the emotions and emotions invested by Prokofiev. Fans of his talent have repeatedly noted this attitude of the author to his own songs. However, the "White Swan" could not help touching the soul with such a sensitive and soulful performance.

The enticing change in musical phrases from two instruments - pianoforte and cello - strikes one of Prokofiev's most striking works while listening. This is the "Ballade for Cello", in which the styles of writing the creator clearly correspond. The composition is characterized by different musical qualities.

Prokofiev's ballets of world fame

All those principles of symphonic music that were traced in the sensational work "Romeo and Juliet" did not cease to develop rapidly in other well-known ballets. Vivid examples: "The Tale of a Stone Flower", written in the 50's, as well as "Cinderella" (in the 40s of last century). Together with the latter, a play was born, distinguished by poetry and deep meaning, telling about the uneasy life of the girl, humiliated by her own stepmother and her two daughters.

Music simply radiated waves of love for life, honesty and decency and at the same time bitter melancholy from injustice - such multi-faceted feelings and emotions were put by Prokofiev. "Mazurka" from the ballet is more cheerful. It symbolizes that hidden optimism that is present in the depths of the soul of an unhappy girl. With every musical mention of the main heroine, warmth, tenderness and affection are heard. Many say that this work, written by Sergei Prokofiev, is closest to the drama that Tchaikovsky sent to listeners and viewers.

Plays and Overtures

At the beginning of the twentieth century, four magnificent plays were written, which Prokofiev loved to lose. The "March", "The Fairy Tale", as well as "The Ghost" and "Joke" were repeatedly elaborated. A little later, four more works were written:

• "Obsession".
• "Rush".
• "Memory".
• "Despair".

Always tried to bring his works to the ideal imagery of piano thinking Prokofiev. "Joke", "Rush", "Fairy Tale" and so on - all this formed a certain image of the author's play, his individual piano language, based on special characteristic techniques. All the works under consideration have been completed several times, and for many years. In his plays Prokofiev ("March", "Fascination", "Despair") only emphasized that specific pianism, which was outlined in his early sketches.

During his trip to the United States of America at the beginning of the last century, the pianist wrote an amazing piece specially for clarinet, pianoforte and string quartet. It was an overture on Jewish themes. The structure of the composition corresponds to the standard form of the overture, however, there is a certain individuality in it - an accented roll of two instruments in the first and second themes - clarinet and cello (they imitate each other, losing both themes, but alternately). The piano part is distinguished by a low level of complexity of the game, which enables many novice talents to enjoy wonderful music without certain virtuosic skills.

"The Fifth Symphony"

During the war the composer wrote his famous "Fifth Symphony" (B flat major). Its first predecessor was created fourteen years before the writing of the fifth part. The author himself said that he put into it all the strength and greatness of the human spirit. The traits traced in the work are dramatic, monumental, grandiose. The symphony develops all the heroic traditions of Russian symphonic music.

The work consists of four parts:

• "Andante".
• Allegro Markato.
• "Adagio".
• Allegro gyokoso.

The last part of the symphony - Allegro giocoso - captures the spirit of its power and penetration. The premiere was stunning, and until now this particular symphony (more than 40 minutes long) remains one of the most masterpieces of the great pianist, conductor and composer.

Revolutionary Motives

Sergei Prokofiev entirely devoted himself entirely to his favorite work, dedicating music to almost fifty years. The composer lived only 62 years. Despite the hard trials that have been made in a foreign country, he proudly returned to his homeland and tried to join as soon as possible in such a close and native environment. "Fed up" with revolutionary changes, the composer wrote "Cantata", taking for her words from many famous political sources: the books of Lenin, the Manifesto of the Communist Party and the Constitution itself.

Sergei Prokofiev refers to the great composers who skillfully reflect the spirit of their time and native people, despite all the obstacles and prohibitions. His works are imbued with power, a kind of harmony. The name of the great conductor, pianist and composer is the symphony orchestra, concert hall, music academy. The museum-apartment of this great man can be visited in the capital of Russia.