If I Could Choose Only One Work By...PROKOFIEV 

6th symphony for me. the 1st movement is really touching.

Excellent choice! I wrote to Horowitz, urging him to perform it. He replied Prokofiev said it had too many notes!

For me the "War Sonatas" No. 6-8. They are marvelous examples of 20th century solo piano music.

I like this work, but to be honest it's a little early for me. I'd put the 3rd concerto, the Prodigal Son, the War Sonatas, the 1st Violin Sonata and the 6th Symphony above it. If you absolutely twisted my arm...the Prodigal Son because it showcases everything good in him. Plus it has, I think, the warmest, most beautiful ending he ever wrote. Often playing in my head on a long journey home.

For me Romeo and Juliet. Saw it in college in the famous Stuttgart production and fell head over heels for it. But I also love the 2nd Piano Concerto, the 5th Symphony, the 7th Piano Sonata.

My favourite Prokofiev piece is the second piano concerto, and I was so surprised when I discovered it thinking ‘why the hell isn’t it better known?’ The other favourite for me is the first Violin concerto which is heavenly.

I love a lot of Prokofiev but PC#2 would be my pick too. Much as you describe, the work has everything - melody, craziness, grotesqueness and a huge variety of moods. The cadenza is horrendously difficult and very emotional and the 2nd movement (1760 semi-quavers for the pianist with no interruption) and the 4th movement are even more difficult. Also I love that Prokofiev really pushes the boundaries - some of the concerto is very modern even now.

I find it fascinating that such musical talent as that of Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Weinberg was able survive and even blossom under the stifling regime of Stalin and his cultural bulldogs Zdanov and Khrennikov. Prokofiev was in some ways the saddest case of those three, having spent a large part of his life in the West and failing to survive Stalin by even a single day. I find it hard to recognise the "real" Prokofiev in his varied output. It was often aggressive and percussive in his Tsarist and Western period (was the Classical Symphony a joke?). After his return to the Soviet Union, there was a lot of accessible and tuneful ballet music, some superbly dramatic and still accessible cinema music, some frankly rather pompous and boring official music and other music which was much more intimate. I am tempted to think that this last category represented the distilled essence of the real Prokofiev, particularly his later Piano Sonatas and some of the cello music he composed with the support of Rostropovich. My choice would go to one of these works.

My favourite concerto too! I like so much the famous 3rd and 5th (that needs to be more know, too), but this one has the more incredible piano part, original, virtuosuosity, sometimes with tension, sometimes lyrical and beautifull...

Agreed! The second piano concerto is amazing!

For me it would have to be his 3rd symphony. The orchestration is just amazing! And my god the last movement is just downright demented! My favourite performance is by Andrew Litton with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (thanks Dave for reviewing his Prokofiev cycle).

The complete Cinderella ballet for me. I do love the second piano concerto, though, and I wish Ivo Pogorelich had recorded it in his 1980s pomp. The perfect pianist for this piece.

I can't really disagree, though I also greatly enjoy his PC 3 and Symphony 5.

Yes, YES! Piano concerto n°2 has it all. Hell, even only the 1st movement's cadenza has it all - and more. And, after the cadenza, orchestra comes back in the best depiction of emotional and phisical Apocalypse ever put on paper. It's just an emotionally pulverizing and technically amazing work.

As I have commented before, as a newbie I have really struggled as I have listened to the works/recordings recommenced on this wonderful channel and at times I have considered giving up my classical music journey but things have started turning around for me and Prokofiev is a part of that. The Freddy Kempf recording of this pick, along with No. 3, might be my favorite recordings of piano concertoes. To my newer ears, piano solos often are just to busy and end up giving me a headache but Prokofiev's are beautiful. However, while doing a deep dive I discovered a recording by Yuri Simonov and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra that I feel in love with. This recording has Ballet suites from Romeo & Juliet, Lieutant Kije Suite and the "Classical" Symphony and it might be one of the best sounding streaming recordings I have found and quickly made my personal top 10 of classical records. Again, think you so much for your guidance and direction regarding this wonderful music.

2nd piano concerto is a big favourite of mine too. I’m fond of his last ballet, The Stone Flower that has only been recorded once by Gennadi R. The last 3 symphonies all fabulous in differing ways. 2nd violin sonata and cello symphonies for us sting players.

Just damn. Thank you Dave. I thought I could call myself a big Prokofiev fan but I’d somehow neglected this fantastic work. Thought I had thoroughly checked out all five (I think I have Ashkenazy on good-sounding London vinyl) and settled on 1 and 3 as my faves. Didn’t listen to the other three much. Well, thanks to your rave, I just sought out the Second on Spotify (i ended up with Kissin/Ashkenazy conducting), and WOW! What a brain-melting, soul-enriching experience! Walked outside into the cold, looked at the moon (on headphones here)… what an experience! In short, you’re absolutely right: this piece features everything we love Prokofiev for. BTW, my ultra-dark-horse candidate for the One Indispensable Prokofiev Work is the flute sonata. And I’m not even a chamber-music guy. Has the full mix of melancholy, mad-genius melody, danceable sprightliness… so so good. I love the Rampal but own a few good ones. And I don’t hate some of the violin transcriptions… but I disagree with the common opinion that the flute is an inferior instrument and one must have the superior expressiveness of the violin version. In those few special pieces (Prokofiev, Poulenc, Bartok, Reinecke, Debussy), the flute is tragic and regal like nothing else.

I'm shocked. Was expecting "Visions Fugitives" or Sonata for 2 violins 😁

I'm sure that Cancrizans will not destroy all of Britten's works, because he would lose me as a follower. But if he does, I'm really in trouble what to keep. Britten was foremost a vocal composer, so I would chose a voval work. The "War Requiem" is iconic and startet a bunch of works from other composers on the base "liturgical text plus modern poems". But Britten was also a composer for the stage and a composer of great orchestral songs, as the "Serenade". Well, the lyrical qualities of the songs one finds in the operas, too. So, would my choice be an opera? But which one? "Grimes" is the most popular, "Lucretia" has this awkward libretto, "Herring" is delightful, but the 2nd part of the 2nd act is a bore. "Billy Budd" is marvellous, and so is "Gloriana" and "Turn of the Screw". The later operas have all their weaknesses, so I exclude them. I adore "Billy", "Gloriana" and "Turn", and I think that "Turn" is one of the strongest and most fascinating operas ever written. And so my choice is - "The Prince of the Pagodas". Why? - It's the greatest purely instrumental music Britten has written. The idea to develop the whole score as variations of a few motives creates a symphonic form, but yet Britten obeys the needs for dance and writes a divertissement in the last act. But my choice became the "Prince" because of the scoring. The re-invented Gamelan for western orchestra is a marvel! In my opinion, no work since Ravel's "Mother Goose" has this balance of forms, tunes, colour an kind of childlike joy in sounds and glitter, which makes the listener happy.

One of the attractions of this series is that it is such a puzzling challenge to choose the right essential work when a compose’s genius has created a cornucopia from which to choose. In truth, with Prokofiev, I would have sat on the couch frustrated and consternated. However, I have long been in love with that second piano concerto among all of P’s incredible concertos, so I am delighted with this decision. Why am I so in sympathy? The first movement exemplifies the wanton romanticism from the 19th century that simply refuses to die in the 20th. The movement builds to a musical orgasm (the cadenza?) which leaves me speechless and spent. But there is no time to recover. For, this first movement is then married to two movements that come straight from the id of the 20th century zeitgeist. Not only is this juxtaposition fascinating in its unexpected oddity. It also creates a remarkable sense of depth. The quirky expansiveness of the music in the final movement seems to augment, even emphasize, this virtue of depth. Being in love with this piece by P, perhaps I shouldn’t talk so much about it. With a smile on my face, perhaps I should just let it be.

Wot, no 'Hail to Stalin, the Great LEADER'?? :-) Actually a rather good piece. Yes, I agree with you Dave - the 2nd Piano Concerto has it all. Fantastically difficult to play, even by Prokofiev's standards.

For me: Alexander Nevsky. Hands down!

Dave, I'm elated that my Prokofiev pick matched yours. I feel complimented, really.

Fantastic piece, absolutely astounding imagination and intensity to it all the way through. The end of the 1st movment cadenza and orchestra entrance are apocalyptic.

Piano Concerto #2 is my choice as well.

I'm waiting for the evil god Cancrizans to boot the entire planet Baxia (along with Bantockia, of course) into the nearest black hole - except for the powerful but rather mysterious second symphony. I'd also be happy if he decides to save the gorgeous and evocative Tintagel instead.

Great choice! Better I think than the more popular Third, though the Second has been getting played much more these days. A real knuckle buster!

Great choice. My favourite composer and so many amazing, and sadly, underrated works. My picks are also war sonatas, first violin sonata, symphony 2,3,5 and 6 and many other works as ,for example, ballet Chout and quintet. So many masterpieces in every genre.

Interesting choice. I don't know the Second Piano Concerto very well; I may have listened to it once or twice over the years. I am now motivated to dust off my set of the complete Prokofiev piano concertos and give them all a listen It's been way too long since I've heard any of them. Your mention of "pounding rhythms" put me in mind of Stravinsky and the "Rite of Spring." I haven't provided a Stravinsky choice yet, so here goes. The "Rite" is a revolutionary work, to be sure. How many compositions provoked riots at their premieres? Only one to the best of my knowledge. But despite its historical importance,"Le Sacre du Printemps" iis not my first choice to offer to Cancrizans. That choice would be Les Noces, a work which combines the composer's primitivism with his classicism and evident affection for "Mother Russia" and its folk traditions. It's also a masterpiece.

Ah Dave, this choice pleased me no end! Well chosen and well defended. For Stravinsky, I’d like to put in a vote for Symphony in Three Movements because it is a neoclassical masterpiece with Stravinsky’s rhythmic obsessions in place and a wonderfully joyful sounding piece to boot. There have been good arguments for the Rite and Agon and I personally have a soft spot for the violin concerto but I think this piece is an excellent vintage for Stravinsky.

This was my pick as well. The 2nd PC exhibits the important facets of his musical personality: dark dissonance, sometimes demonic (as in the fiery angel), poignant melody, among others. I think it is his finest work.

Romeo and Juliet was the obvious choice but I agree that the piano concertos are just as great. I enjoy them all including the fourth. As handfuls of concertos go, I think they are second only to Beethoven's five.

Though I've always liked the beginning of the first movement, it has taken a while for this work to grow on me. I would certainly say that while the 3rd Piano Concerto and 1st Violin Concerto are great in a way that's more generally characteristic, the 2nd is special. For me, it resonates more strongly with the sombre and garish hues of Russia's "Silver Age," qualities that were really intense just before WWI, when the original version of the concerto was written. It's remarkable how much originality Prokofiev displayed in his early works--even the first of his Op. 2 etudes and the Toccata, Op. 11, the Visions Fugitives (1915-17). The concerto shares with these works a freshness that's much less apparent in later works.

I been listening to a lot of Prokofiev recently & I definitely agree with your pick.

I heard Horowitz say in a interview when he lived in Paris in the 1920s that Prok came to him with some manuscripts asking which he would like to be dedicated to him, he said "please play my 3rd piano concerto! The 2nd has too many notes I do not like it myself but the 3rd this is a good Concerto!" I need to try and find the video when he said this. Interesting

Great choice! I'd put the second concerto neck and neck with the 8th Piano Sonata

Yes! As soon as I saw that it was Prokofiev, my inner voice shouted “2nd Piano Concerto!”…although, the 7th sonata is nipping at its toes for first choice. Dare we hope for a “best of” survey of the complete piano sonatas? Either as cycles or individual artist picks for each one….would amputate a limb to hear your analyses and explanations of each sonata.

The popularity of Piano Concerto No.2 has increased in recent decades, and has almost eclipsed Piano Concerto No.3. Much like Rach 3 coming out of Rach 2's shadow. That's because there are far more pianists who can do it justice today. Catch that super recording coupling both concertos (Prok 2 & Rach 3) by Yuja Wang and Dudamel on DG, and one realises that Prokofiev and Rachmaninov have much more in common than expected!

Great pick! My favorite piece by Prokofiev! That makes about five times you have picked my favorite work of a composer! Now if you can go back and clean up those other 15 choices, that would make you a complete genius! (Just kidding! This is a great idea! I look forward to your next selection and enjoy them very much!)

For Satie, the "Trois morceaux en forme de poire" (original piano 4 hands version) would probably give you the most in one work. It's a curious retrospective of his stylistic development from 1890 to 1903, from the "Gnossiennes" to his early cabaret songs. All of his charmingly dry lyricism is there, and the silly title foreshadows his "humoristic" phase of the 1910s.

Yes, this is the third one of these I got right, and it’s a great choice and very well-reasoned.

It was one of the first works by the composer I got familiar with, oh, about 60 years ago! But I always felt a little guilty, thinking it was too gaudy to admit enjoying! Nice to have Dave's imprimatur on it! My nomination for Berg is Wozzeck, even though I suspect the Violin Concerto will end up on the list instead. I never dreamed Wozzeck would become eclipsed in the opera house (let alone so thoroughly!) by the longer and thornier Lulu, but I think the earlier opera is the more affecting of the two. And Berg is all about feeling.

Well argued! This will be my choice too, even though I am usually a violin concerto guy

There's a lot of choice here. Yes, the 2nd piano concerto is remarkable, and Prokofiev is always interesting and enjoyable melodically. The 3rd of course is the more popular, but the 2nd has that vast sweep [i realise that doesn't make sense, but I mean the type of music that makes you want to draw an arc in the air....right?!?] and drive. An extraordinary piece. But I'd also be inclined to go with either the 5th or 6th symphonies, for similar reasons of melody and grandeur.

#2 is beautiful, but I'm a #3 guy.. Especially Yuja & Abbado @ Lucerne

excellent choice than this 2nd piano concerto although I prefer number 4 for the left hand which has the same dedicatee as the ''one-armed'' concerto by ravel...paul wittgenstein, who I think never wanted to play it , he did not like it, it seems ..... for prokovief my choice remains however the orchestral suite (and not sung....!) of lieutenant kijé, with its very detailed and colorful orchestration, and the use of the saxophone which I particularly like

I agree with this choice! I have the Ancerl recording with the Czech Phil and pianist Dagmar Baloghova on vinyl, and it is one of my favorite all time recordings. You should do a video (if you haven't already) on the best recording of this concerto. My vote would go to Ancerl/Baloghova!

Not familiar with this work. I will check it out . Thanks David.

Please highlight Dvorak, and thank you for the edification I've derived from the items on this list and the reasons why you chose them.

Excellent choice Dave! I came to this work late in life, but having heard it, I'm pretty certain this is the very best of Prokofiev. I only have one recording of it (Toradze/Gergiev), and to my uneducated ears it sounds excellent. I'd like to hear others playing this piece. Do you have a particular "fave" you can recommend?

Hello David! I was wondering if you had the chance to see the Prokofiev Collector's Edition by Warner (if you plan to review it, I will wait until then to buy it!)

When are you going to do Puccini?

I would have chosen Romeo and Juliet, a varied great sample of all the best typical elements of Prokofiev

Film Score for Alexander Nevsky. Does the qualify?

I am always puzzled as to why you say something is the greatest but not the most popular. I have listened to both concerti and I really don't find the second to be particularly memorable whereas the third is one of my 'Desert Island' disks.

I would choose the Classical Symphony, a lovely piece, beautiful homage to Haydn and Mozart.

I would consider Montagues and Capulets pretty sardonic. A portrait of the Politburo?

The choice for John Cage is obviously 4'33"