Video of Prokofiev playing the piano

[steveie986]

A film recording of Prokofiev playing the piano and talking in Russian can be found here:

https://www.hospaud.org/hai/audvid/Prokofieff.htm

Click on archival films.

I discovered this link at prokofiev.org. This is the first time I saw Prokofiev on film so it's definitely quite fascinating.

Can a Russian speaker translate the interview portion? Thanks.

[arensky]

Well that was just too cool! Thank you very very very much!! Interesting how fluid and relaxed his wrists are, his contribution to piano playing is generally considered to be a departure from 19th century technique, but it seems that he is an exponent of that school...

[BoliverAllmon]

that is very cool thanks for the link.

[shasta]

What a treat!  Thanks for that link!   

[steveie986]

Well that was just too cool! Thank you very very very much!! Interesting how fluid and relaxed his wrists are, his contribution to piano playing is generally considered to be a departure from 19th century technique, but it seems that he is an exponent of that school...

Yes, it seems as if Prokofiev's piano technique is remarkably orthodox in spite of the iconoclasm of his style. As a teenager in the Moscow Conservatory he got first place in the piano competition with his performance of his own piano concerto no. 1. Though his professors hated the piece, his playing was fundamentally very sound.

[kreso]

Yes, it seems as if Prokofiev's piano technique is remarkably orthodox in spite of the iconoclasm of his style. As a teenager in the Moscow Conservatory he got first place in the piano competition with his performance of his own piano concerto no. 1. Though his professors hated the piece, his playing was fundamentally very sound.

I've heard that he had to play on that competition one prelude and fugue by Bach but he play I think something from The Art of the Fugue.
And then in the finalle, he had to play one classical concerto, but he play his own 1st concerto.

He argued with jury and he win!

[apion]

What a piece of SH!T upright piano!     

[bonbonbon]

thanks for the link!

Below is the translation ( from my friend)

Dialog between correspondent (C) and Prokofiev (P)

C: Mr Prokofiev, tell us about your last work?
P: So, now i work with symphonic suites of waltz, where will be three waltz from "Zolushka", two waltz from "War and Peace" and one waltz from movie "Lermontov" , which with big succes made in Leningrad.  And especially had become famous Chizhko who was a tenor and wonderful played a role of Pyer Bezuhoff

By the way, i write sonata for piano with violin, and after finish that i'll return to my 6th symphony, 3 suites from ballet zolushka i've finished now and hope you'll be able to listen to them in the begining of the next season

the end
(sorry for the grammar)

[steveie986]

Thanks very much for the translation. This is a priceless piece of musical history.

[arensky]

Thanks very much for the translation. This is a priceless piece of musical history.

I second that, I thank you and your friend! 

[bonbonbon]

null problemo  you're welcome!

[Etude]

Thanks a lot for that link!
And thanks for the translation as well bonbonbon.

[steveie986]

Are bumps allowed?

[mikey6]

You're a freaking legend.  This is awesome except for the crappy piano sound.  It's hell wierd seeing the great man alive and speaking.

[steveie986]

Hehehe, you guys will also like this:

https://prokofiev.org/forum/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=3&Topic=780

Prokofiev's granddaughter Beatrice posted a message on the prokofiev.org message forum.

[steveie986]

Bump