Synopsis
In the spring and summer of 1921, Sergei Prokofiev was living in a quiet village on the coast of Brittany. He wrote, “I get up at 8:30, put on a collarless shirt, white pants, and sandals. After drinking hot chocolate, I look to see if the garden is still where it’s supposed to be. Then I sit down to work. I’m writing my Piano Concerto No. 3.”
On today’s date in 1921, Prokofiev was the soloist in the premiere of the new work, which took place in America, with the Chicago Symphony under Frederick Stock.
In a letter written to conductor Serge Koussevitsky before the premiere, Prokofiev wrote, “My third concerto has turned out to be devilishly difficult. I’m nervous and practicing hard three hours a day. But let the maestro be calm — there are no complicated meters, no dirty tricks. It can be conducted without special preparation — it is difficult for the orchestra, but not for the conductor.”
Chicago audiences and newspaper critics gave the new concerto a warm, if not overly enthusiastic, reception at its first performance in America, and in time, the Piano Concerto No. 3 — despite its difficulty — became one of Prokofiev’s most popular works with performers as well as audiences around the world.
Music Played in Today's Program
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): Piano Concerto No. 3; Alexander Toradze, piano; Kirov Orchestra; Valery Gergiev, conductor; Philips 462 048
On This Day
Births
1770 - German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, in Bonn. The date is not certain, but his birthday has been traditionally celebrated on this date. Beethoven was baptized the following day (Dec. 17, 1770).
1775 - French opera composer François Boieldieu, in Rouen
1847 - French composer (of Irish parentage) Augusta Holmès (Holmes), in Paris
1882 - Hungarian composer Zoltán Kódaly, in Kecskemét
1899 - British playwright and songwriter Sir Noel Coward, in Teddington (Middlesex)
1932 - Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin, in Moscow
Deaths
1921 - French composer and pianist Camille Saint-Saëns, 86, in Algiers
Premieres
1877 - Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 (second version), in Vienna, with the composer conducting
1893 - Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 (From the New World), at Carnegie Hall, by the New York Philharmonic, Anton Seidl conducting. This was the official premiere (a public dress rehearsal had taken place the previous afternoon).
1894 - Emil von Reznicek: opera Donna Diana, in Prague
1921 - Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3, by the Chicago Symphony conducted by Frederick Stock, with the composer as soloist
1938 - Copland: An Outdoor Overture, in New York City
1946 - Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3, in Moscow, by the Beethoven Quartet
Others
1718 - J.S. Bach examines the organ at the Paulinerkirche in Leipzig
1944 - American bandleader and trombonist Glenn Miller, 40, dies in an air crash near England
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About Composers Datebook®
Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.
He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.