The Love for Three Oranges

Sergei Prokofiev's sardonic style prevents him from being more well-known and admired. But, he is one of the most accessible composers from the modern era, and his music bustles with intelligence. He composed his third piano concerto at age 30 in 1921. The work was the culmination of his youth as a composer.

At 53, he composed his Symphony No. 5 against the background of World War II. If you are familiar with Prokofiev, this symphony takes you by surprise. It contains an emotional depth rare for any composer. All of the talent evident from the early phase of his career is there, only now it is put to the use of telling a human story fit for the times during which it was conceived. Listening to the symphony, we witness a person of remarkable ability who has finally learned to express his emotions in terms of the high standard of intellect he demands from his compositions.