Prokofiev

[Ferretfancy]

A new book by Simon Morrison Called The Love and Wars of Lina Prokofiev, tells the story of Prokofiev's first wife. After his return to Russia their marriage drifted into failure, largely due to his many infidelities. I understand that the book is primarily about her, but his reputation emerges as a deeply uncaring person who did not attempt to help her when she was arrested and sent to the Gulags in 1948.

The question is, should this painful knowledge affect our attitude towards the music? Personally, I enjoy Prokofiev's works without perhaps loving them, sensing a certain coldness, but I knew nothing about this aspect of his life until now.it seems to me that there are deeply felt compositions, the 6th Symphony for example, but I don't find the depth that I hear in Shostakovich, others will disagree.

Of course, the debate about composer's lives being separate works rumbles on with the discussion of Wagner and others, but Prokofiev's is more contemporay and historically closer to home.

[Sir Velo]

It takes two to tango as they say. If we all stopped listening to every composer who was a shit in their private life, there'd be precious little left for us to listen to Ferret. Doesn't bother me one iota I have to say!

[Pianoman]

Ditto - many geniuses turn out to be troubled individuals but it never stops me enjoying the creations...

[Black Swan]

Ditto - many geniuses turn out to be troubled individuals but it never stops me enjoying the creations...

I totally agree. This is no reason to stop listening to Prokofiev. At list in my humble opinion.

[mercia]

well she outlived him by thirty-six years which I guess was a compensation

[Barbirollians]

Didn't she record Peter and the Wolf as the narrator for Chandos ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Didn't she record Peter and the Wolf as the narrator for Chandos ?

Yup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J108VJE7PEQ

[richardfinegold]

well she outlived him by thirty-six years which I guess was a compensation

In the USSR, longevity may not necessarily have been associated with happiness.

[richardfinegold]

A new book by Simon Morrison Called The Love and Wars of Lina Prokofiev, tells the story of Prokofiev's first wife. After his return to Russia their marriage drifted into failure, largely due to his many infidelities. I understand that the book is primarily about her, but his reputation emerges as a deeply uncaring person who did not attempt to help her when she was arrested and sent to the Gulags in 1948.

The question is, should this painful knowledge affect our attitude towards the music? Personally, I enjoy Prokofiev's works without perhaps loving them, sensing a certain coldness, but I knew nothing about this aspect of his life until now.it seems to me that there are deeply felt compositions, the 6th Symphony for example, but I don't find the depth that I hear in Shostakovich, others will disagree.

Of course, the debate about composer's lives being separate works rumbles on with the discussion of Wagner and others, but Prokofiev's is more contemporay and historically closer to home.

I agree with OP in that while I enjoy the Composer's music, I do detect a certain coldness of spirit. I had always felt this way and did not know much about his private life. I also find myself in agreement with those who say that we need to separate the artistic achievements from the character of the artist.

[Ferretfancy]

I always knew that there were differences of feeling between Prokofiev and Shostakovich as they both laboured under terrible conditions, but its interesting that whereas Prokofiev did nothing to save Lina it was Shostakovich who took a risk and secured her eventual release. I certainly won't stop listening to the music, but It is uncomfortable knowledge all the same.

[antongould]

..........

Of course, the debate about composer's lives being separate works rumbles on with the discussion of Wagner and others, but Prokofiev's is more contemporay and historically closer to home.

There was a debate a while back about the old scoundrel Arthur Rubenstein ......well not so much a debate as another ticking off for me from Sidcup

[jayne lee wilson]

I agree with OP in that while I enjoy the Composer's music, I do detect a certain coldness of spirit. I had always felt this way and did not know much about his private life. I also find myself in agreement with those who say that we need to separate the artistic achievements from the character of the artist.

Coldness?! In the burgeoning melodiousness of the 4th Symphony's Andante, the 5th Symphony's Adagio, the 6th's Largo, almost anywhere in the 7th...? The Romeo & Juliet love scene? Etc., etc.,... If Prokofiev isn't melodically warm-blooded, who is?

Those of us who have enjoyed political freedom as a given can never hope to grasp the reality of life under such a totalitarian, terrorising system. Could he really have helped his wife once she was in the Gulag, without risk to himself? He was already out-of-favour with the "Authorities"...

[mercia]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/mar/10/biography-abandoned-prokofiev-wife-gulag

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2292785/How-singer-Lina-Prokofiev-gave-dreams-success-losing-husband-liberty.html

[Ferretfancy]

Coldness?! In the burgeoning melodiousness of the 4th Symphony's Andante, the 5th Symphony's Adagio, the 6th's Largo, almost anywhere in the 7th...? The Romeo & Juliet love scene? Etc., etc.,... If Prokofiev isn't melodically warm-blooded, who is?

Those of us who have enjoyed political freedom as a given can never hope to grasp the reality of life under such a totalitarian, terrorising system. Could he really have helped his wife once she was in the Gulag, without risk to himself? He was already out-of-favour with the "Authorities"...

Of course I agree with you about the terrors of the time, and certainly Prokofiev was a a great melodist among his many other qualities, but for me there is always a slight air of emotional calculation. This works beautifully in the ballets, but less so elsewhere in my view, we all feel music differently. Lina Prokofiev fell foul of the authorities because having been abandoned by her husband she tried to leave the Soviet Union,had he treated her with more consideration she would probably not have been so desperate or alone. She always remained loyal to Prokofiev even long after his death.