Sergei Prokofiev

Sergei Prokofiev was a prominent 20th-century Russian and Soviet composer known for his prolific output across diverse genres, including symphonies, operas, ballets and film music. After travelling around the world for five years, often called his “years of wandering”, Prokofiev returned permanently to the Soviet Union in the 1930s, where he became a central figure in Soviet culture. His work during this period synthesized traditional melodic elements with 20th-century stylistic innovations. Notable compositions include the ballet Romeo and Juliet, the symphonic tale Peter and the Wolf, and the score for Sergey Eisenstein’s film Alexander Nevsky. During World War II, he focused on large-scale projects like the opera War and Peace. Despite facing political censure for "formalism" in 1948, he continued composing until his death from a cerebral haemorrhage in 1953. He was posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize in 1957.