Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Ronald Corp, Finchley Children's Music Group :: Prokofiev's Music for Children

Another Aspect of Prokofiev's Talent

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though most devotees of Sergei Prokofiev are committed to the acerbic, gritty, and wondrously dramatic symphonies and ballets, this fine recording - by title - reminds us that Prokofiev had a highly successful side of his composing that was intended for the child in each of us.



This delightful recording includes not only the very popular 'Peter and the Wolf', Opus 67, for narrator and orchestra - here performed by narrators Oleg and Gabriel Prokofiev with Ronald Corp conducting the New London Orchestra - but also rarely performed similar diversions such as 'Winter Bonfire', suite for boy's chorus & orchestra, Op. 122 with the same forces but adding the Finchley Children's Music Group, and 'The Ugly Duckling', a song for voice and orchestra, Op. 18 well performed by Penelope Walmsley-Clark. The latter pieces may be slight in stature in comparison with the major Prokofiev works, but they certainly are an appealing introduction for children to grow into classical music.



For this listener the genuine surprise is 'Summer Day', suite for orchestra, Op. 65, a work based on children's pieces for the piano and later orchestrated. The series of tunes show hints of the lighter moments in his 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Cinderella' ballets and the sassier portions of his symphonic works, but in this setting they can be appreciated for the fine manner in which Prokofiev could treat the melodic line. Ronald Corp conducts the New London Orchestra in a polished reading of some very lovely music. This is one of those CDs that may be overlooked as something for children alone, but just listen to the recording and be enchanted with the sophisticated simplicity that was so readily apparent in Prokofiev's facile hands. Grady Harp, August 06"