Spot-Light on Prokofiev!!!

With Russian Ballet Orlandos upcoming performances of Cinderella coming up in April, todays blog will be about the composer of this beloved ballet!

Sergei Prokofiev was a Russian composer and pianist born in a small village of Ukraine in 1981. He began playing the piano at the age of 5 and then later moved to St. Petersburg to study music. He traveled throughout Europe after he graduated from school and eventually left Russia in 1918 due to Russia being a difficult climate to work in. He made Paris his home and eventually traveled through the United States & the Bavarian Alps as well. By 1936 he moved back to the Soviet Union as he missed his home.

One of Prokofiev's most famous ballets was Cinderella. This song has inspired choreographers since the time it was created. What is most noticeable, half way through creating this music he actually broke off to write his opera War and Peace.

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

How does his music portray the emotions in the ballet?

I have danced every role from Cinderella, to Step-Sisters, and Clock Fairy and every song was composed to fit the persona of each character.

Cinderellas music has a similar theme which you will hear throughout the whole ballet. Her music has an ominous tone. The step sisters are more fun and quirky when on stage. The clock fairy music revolves around the ball, and you will hear that similar tone as well too.

“In my view, the composer,

just as the poet, the sculptor or the painter,

is in duty bound to serve Man, the people.

He must beautify life and defend it.

He must be a citizen first and foremost,

so that his art might consciously extol human life

and lead man to a radiant future.” Sergei Prokofiev

My favorite piece out of the ballet.

My favorite piece out of the ballet Cinderella, Op. 87, Act III: No. 45, Cinderellas Awakening

This piece is after the ball when Cinderella is in distraught about losing her slipper and urning back into a slave. Throughout the whole theme of this music youll here different themes that have been played throughout the whole ballet.

We portray this scene with the glass slipper that still remains. It begins with the same themed music from the beginning of the ballet and takes you on a journey through act 1 and act 2. She dances with the shoe wondering where her prince is, and then the music changes into her ballet variation music and she remembers the fun and great times she has, and then goes back into her wondering where her prince is. The end she is left alone, just wondering where her true love may be.

Prokofiev's music will hold a special place in my heart, and leave the audience filled with emotions. Love, Heartbreak, Tears, and adventure.