Sergei Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante (sometimes called Symphony-Concerto), is a large-scale work for Cello and Orchestra. Prokofiev dedicated it to Mstislav Rostropovich, who premiered it on February 18, 1952 with Sviatoslav Richter conducting. After this first performance (under the title 'Cello Concerto No. 2'), it was revised and given its current title. It is itself a revised version of his earlier cello concerto, Opus 58 written 1933–8.
Since the Central Committee decision on February 10th, 1948, Prokofiev was considered a "suspect" musician. His work was disparaged as bourgeois and formalistic, and his first wife was convicted as a spy and taken to a forced-labor camp. These misfortunes and the possibility of being arrested without reason most likely affected Prokofiev's already deteriorating health.
It has been said that due to the solo part's immense difficulties, very few cellists dare to perform this work. However, this work has inspired Shostakovich to write his Cello Concerto No. 1, also dedicated to Rostropovich.
The work, around 40 minutes long, is in three movements:
- Andante (11mins)
- Allegro (18mins)
- Andante con moto - Allegretto - Allegro marcato (11mins)
See also
- Grammy Awards of 1993, re. a prize-winning performance of this work by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist; Lorin Maazel, Conductor.