Criticized by the Soviet regime for ‘'formalistic deviations and anti-democratic musical tendencies,’ and derided by Western critics for expressing Bolshevism in music, Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofieff’s talent was not always appreciated in his lifetime. An exceptionally versatile composer, Prokofieff’s works ranged from the lyrical to the dissonant, and he often infused them with humor and irony. Today, his music can be heard in both cartoons and opera houses, and he is increasingly recognized as one of the seminal composers of the first half of the Twentieth Century. Unfortunately, his life was filled with the same tragic irony that filled his work. The Soviet authorities that often stymied him in life even overshadowed him in death… Joseph Stalin’s death the same day prevented all but the most perfunctory mourning for one of Russia’s great composers.

Prokofieff’s works remain particularly relevant fifty years after his death. Luck’s Music Library carries a wide selection of scores and performance material for both the student and the professional.