Sergei Prokofiev

Description

Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (Russian: Се�ге�й Се�ге�еви� ��око���ев, Sergéj Sergéjevi� Prokófjev) born in Sontsovka, Ukraine of the Russian Empire on April 27 (April 15O.S.), 1891&ndash;March 5, 1953 was a Russian and Soviet composer who mastered numerous musical genres and came to be admired as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. (Alternative transliterations of his name include Sergey or Serge, and Prokofief, Prokofieff, or Prokofyev.) <p>Prokofiev displayed unusual musical abilities by the age of five. His first piano composition to be written down (by his mother), an 'Indian Gallop', was in F major but without the customary B-flat--the young Prokofiev did not like to touch the black keys. By the age of seven, he had also learned to play chess. Much like music, chess would remain a passion his entire life, and he became acquainted with world chess champions Capablanca and Botvinnik. <p>A child prodigy, at the age of nine he was composing his first opera,The Giant; an...