prokofievan vs shostakovichian

[steveie986]

From a thread on prokofiev.org:

Hi, is it true that who is prokofievan could not be shostakovichevan ? I always have this sensation reading comment and article about them; is that result of personal policy position or they are "only" musically not compatible to a person?

Personally, I can appreciate Shostakovich, but he doesn't get me excited the way Prokofiev does. This is mostly because I'm a pianist, and Prokofiev was a sublime composer for the piano. Nothing really touches me like the war sonatas or the Prokofiev piano concertos. I think Shostakovich belongs to the classic Russian Romantic tradition while Prokofiev forged his own path in combining some Romantic lyricism with dissonant sarcasm. Both approaches speak very deeply and interestingly about the respective composers' relationships to the Soviet regime, but that must be left for a book-length analysis.

[burstroman]

I agree with you that Shostakovich doesn't move me like Prokofiev does, but I think Shostakovich, outdid himself in his Sonata #1, it's unlike anything that he ever composed for piano.

[ravel]

i dont think one should compare their piano works.
 a better comparision would be prokofiev's piano works with shostakovich symphonies.
they both seem equally powerful in expression.
shostakovich  piano works might not move you , but his symphonies are masterpieces.
but ofcourse prokofiev has the greater piano pieces, infact some of the greatest. amazing.

[prometheus]

Most people agree that Shostakovich was the better overall composer.

[phil13]

I am most certainly Shostakovichian and do not like many of Prokofiev's works- outside the PCs and the Toccatta. But my friend is certainly Prokofievan and he loves most of Shostakovich's music. So I guess you could say that it can go either way.

Phil

[Nightscape]

Shostakovich's String Quartet no. 8 moves me more than any work by Prokofiev - but I still love Prokofiev.

[piazzo23]

I agree with you that Shostakovich doesn't move me like Prokofiev does, but I think Shostakovich, outdid himself in his Sonata #1, it's unlike anything that he ever composed for piano.

If you like his 1st piano sonata, the you like the early Scriabin.
Try Scriabin´s  3rd sonata.