Overview

Sergey Prokofiev (1891 1953) was considered strikingly modern in his day, yet his compositions retain a compelling lyricism and an acerbic wit that have ensured their enduring popularity. Having left his native Russia for the USA and subsequently Paris, he spent the last 17 years of his life in the USSR, where his work was heavily influenced by Stalin's cultural policies. Daniel Jaffe's comprehensive biography offers a detailed examination of this remarkable composer's life and works, in the context of the other cultural luminaries of his day and the political turmoil of early twentieth-century Russia.

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9780714847740

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Reviews

'...a thoroughly researched and well-balanced appraisal of Prokofiev's life and works, beautifully presented in tandem with some fascinating and previously unavailable photographic illustrations. Jaffe handles the very difficult task of interweaving narrative and discussion of the works with commendable aplomb...surely one of the best written books in Phaidon's series.' (Classic CD) '...an extensive biography of one of the 20th century's foremost composers. Daniel Jaffe...has combined an intimate portrait outlining the life and social circle of Sergey Prokofiev with a full account of the political climate that shaped his career.' (Bath Chronicle) 'Here is an excellent introduction to the life, character and music of a man Jaffe rightly describes as one of the best loved yet least known of all 20th century composers.' (BBC Music Magazine) 'In the same series comes Daniel Jaffe's Sergey Prokofiev, concise but remarkably rich in detail about the life of this enigmatic Russian composer whose death was overshadowed by that of Stalin on the same day.' (Birmingham Post) '...Jaffe...brings insight into how Prokofiev's life and work intertwined... reliable...a clear introduction to the composer.' (SCRSS [Society of co-operation of Russian & Soviet Studies]) 'Among modern composer-biographies, Daniel Jaffe's Prokofiev (Phaidon, GBP14.95) stands out as exemplary.' (The Independent Weekend Review) 'As a series, Phaidon's 20th Century Composers has brought remarkable variety and a welter of information, both necessary and delightfully trivial. Intended both for the general reader and for the more enthusiatically musical...' (The Scotsman)

'...a thoroughly researched and well-balanced appraisal of Prokofiev's life and works, beautifully presented in tandem with some fascinating and previously unavailable photographic illustrations. Jaffi'1/2 handles the very difficult task of interweaving narrative and discussion of the works with commendable aplomb...surely one of the best written books in Phaidoni'1/2s series.' (Classic CD) '...an extensive biography of one of the 20th centuryi'1/2s foremost composers. Daniel Jaffi'1/2...has combined an intimate portrait outlining the life and social circle of Sergey Prokofiev with a full account of the political climate that shaped his career.' (Bath Chronicle) 'Here is an excellent introduction to the life, character and music of a man Jaffi'1/2 rightly describes as one of the best loved yet least known of all 20th century composers.' (BBC Music Magazine) 'In the same series comes Daniel Jaffi'1/2s Sergey Prokofiev, concise but remarkably rich in detail about the life of this enigmatic Russian composer whose death was overshadowed by that of Stalin on the same day.' (Birmingham Post) '...Jaffi'1/2...brings insight into how Prokofievi'1/2s life and work intertwined... reliable...a clear introduction to the composer.' (SCRSS [Society of co-operation of Russian & Soviet Studies]) 'Among modern composer-biographies, Daniel Jaffi'1/2s Prokofiev (Phaidon, i'1/214.95) stands out as exemplary.' (The Independent Weekend Review) 'As a series, Phaidon's 20th Century Composers has brought remarkable variety and a welter of information, both necessary and delightfully trivial. Intended both for the general reader and for the more enthusiatically musical...' (The Scotsman)

'...a thoroughly researched and well-balanced appraisal of Prokofiev's life and works, beautifully presented in tandem with some fascinating and previously unavailable photographic illustrations. JaffA(c) handles the very difficult task of interweaving narrative and discussion of the works with commendable aplomb...surely one of the best written books in Phaidona (TM)s series.' (Classic CD) '...an extensive biography of one of the 20th centurya (TM)s foremost composers. Daniel JaffA(c)...has combined an intimate portrait outlining the life and social circle of Sergey Prokofiev with a full account of the political climate that shaped his career.' (Bath Chronicle) 'Here is an excellent introduction to the life, character and music of a man JaffA(c) rightly describes as one of the best loved yet least known of all 20th century composers.' (BBC Music Magazine) 'In the same series comes Daniel JaffA(c)a (TM)s Sergey Prokofiev, concise but remarkably rich in detail about the life of this enigmatic Russian composer whose death was overshadowed by that of Stalin on the same day.' (Birmingham Post) '...JaffA(c)...brings insight into how Prokofieva (TM)s life and work intertwined... reliable...a clear introduction to the composer.' (SCRSS [Society of co-operation of Russian & Soviet Studies]) 'Among modern composer-biographies, Daniel JaffA(c)a (TM)s Prokofiev (Phaidon, AGBP14.95) stands out as exemplary.' (The Independent Weekend Review) 'As a series, Phaidon's 20th Century Composers has brought remarkable variety and a welter of information, both necessary and delightfully trivial. Intended both for the general reader and for the more enthusiatically musical...' (The Scotsman)

Author Information

Daniel Jaffe is a freelance music journalist, specializing in twentieth-century music, and currently the Reviews Editor at Classic CD magazine.

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