Peter and the Wolf

Sergei Prokoviev (on the photo left with his second wife Mira) was born in 1891 and died 1953. He was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who is considered of the greatest composers of the 20th century.

He left Russia in 1918 and went first to the United States and then to Paris. In 1935 he returned to Russia, and one year later he composed "Peter and the Wolf". He died in Moscow in 1953 on the same day on which Stalin died..

Prokofiev probably was on of the most popular composers of 20th century music. His orchestral music alone is played more frequently in the United States than that of any other composer of the last hundred years, save Richard Strauss and Dmitri Shostakovich.His operas, ballets, chamber works, and piano music are regularly played in the big concert halls worldwide.

The story is about a boy, Peter, who lives with his grandfather. They live near the forest where the big wolf is roaming freely. Peter, who loves to run free with his animal friends, is told to stay inside so that he is safe from the wolf. He obeys sullenly and watches his friend, the duck, being attacked and devoured by the beast.
He wants to take revenge and manages to get out of the hut. He hunts the wolf and catches him with a rope. Three hunters who have also been looking for the wolf, find him with his quarry. They accompany him on his triumphant way home.

Sergei Prokofiev wrote "Peter and the Wolf" in 1936 after his return to the Soviet Union. It is a children's story (with both music and text by Prokofiev). The story is told by a narrator, the composition itself is one for orchestra.

Everyone of the story's characters has got his special instrument and theme. The hero, Peter, is presented by the strings; his friend, the duck, by the oboe. Whenever the cat appears, you hear the clarinet. The flute is playing, when the bird flutters around, and the french horns announce the Big Bad Wolf.