Prokofieff Festival by London Philharmonic Orchestra

Vladimir Jurowski, the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Principal Conductor, introduces Prokofiev: Man of the People?, a festival at the Southbank Centre in London (13 Jan-1 Feb 2012).

Vladimir Jurowski explains how he feels that “there has been a reluctance to recognise Prokofiev as a genius because of how his politics are understood. After escaping the restrictive creative environment of his homeland in 1918, moving to the USA and then Paris, Prokofiev felt compelled to return to the Soviet Union in 1936, bearing the brunt of artistic censorship until his death in 1953.

“This festival gives us the opportunity to gain a more in-depth understanding of him as a composer and as a man, enriching the black and white over- simplified view that tends to be held – especially in Britain. By sidestepping his popular output and looking at his lesser-known works for the concert hall, stage and screen we will try to analyse his work in terms of its relationship with neighbouring art forms, and his connection or otherwise with fellow composers. We'll be giving the world-première performance of an unknown oratorio version of the music Prokofiev wrote for Eisenstein's film Ivan the Terrible, prepared by his confidant Levon Atovmyan. We are starting out on a new journey to discover the vulnerable soul that lies behind the façade.”

For further information visit the festival website:
> www.lpo.org.uk/prokofiev/home.html