Sergey Prokofiev

Description

Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953) composed some of this century’s most widely loved music, yet he remains one of the least written about or understood  musicians of this century.  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.  This comprehensive biography which contains several hitherto unpublished illustrations, combines an intimate portrait of Prokofiev and his circle with a lucid account of the political events that shaped his career.Daniel Jaffé is a freelance music journalist, specializing in twentieth-century music, and currently the Reviews Editor at Classic CD magazine.

“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. Jaffé 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 Jaffé… 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 Jaffé 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 Jaffé’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

“Jaffé […] 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 Jaffé’s Prokofiev stands out as exemplary.”—The Independent Weekend Review

On the 20th Century Composers Series

“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 enthusiastically musical.”—The Scotsman