Pushkin Waltzes (Prokofiev)

Sergei Prokofiev wrote the two Pushkin Waltzes (Op. 120) in 1949.

Background

The waltzes were written to a commission from the Moscow Radio Committee, for 1949 was the 150th anniversary of Pushkin's birth.

Movements

The two waltzes (lasting around 8 minutes) are titled:

  1. Allegro espressivo (F major)
  2. Allegro meditativo (C-sharp minor)

Instrumentation

The work is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, snare drum, wood blocks, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, and strings.

Premiere

01-Jan-1952, Moscow (radio performance), conducted by Samuel Samosud.

Recordings

Orchestra Conductor Record Company Year of Recording Format
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Theodore Kuchar Naxos Records 1995 CD
Royal Scottish National Orchestra Neeme Järvi Chandos Records 1985 CD
Seattle Symphony Orchestra Gerard Schwarz Delos ? CD
USSR Radio/TV Large Symphony Orchestra Fuat Mansurov Consonance 1973 CD
USSR Radio Symphony Orchestra Samuil Samosud Melodiya ca. 1958 LP