The wayward Prokofiev #47. A longer-running docudrama about one of the most prominent and self-contained composers of the 20th century.
Every fortnight in ‘The Quirky Prokofiev’, an hour-long focus is on the life and work of Russian 20th-century composer Sergei Prokofiev, undoubtedly one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Building on his Romeo and Juliet success, he composed Hamlet in 1936-1938. Not that Hamlet received no further attention in the music world, but perhaps the literary genre of revenge tragedy attracted Prokofiev. We set his work alongside French composer Ambroise Thomas’ 1868 opera Hamlet.
You will listen to:
Sergei Prokofiev. Hamlet op. 77 (1938).
Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Blagovest Choir conducted by Vladimir Ponkin with Boris Stetsenko (baritone) and Ludmila Koroleva (soprano)
Ambroise Thomas. Hamlet (1868) Opening part.
London Symphonic Orchestra/Ambrosian Singers conducted by Antonio de Almeida, including Thomas Hampson as Hamlet, June Anderson as Ophèlie, Samuel Ramey as Claudius, King of Denmark and Denys Graves as Queen Gertrude.
