- published: 21 Dec 2013
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Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy (Russian: Влади́мир Дави́дович Ашкена́зи, Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazi; born July 6, 1937) is a pianist and conductor, originally from Russia, who has held Icelandic citizenship since 1972. He has lived in Switzerland since 1978.
Ashkenazy was born in Gorky, Soviet Union (now Nizhny Novgorod, Russia), to the pianist and composer David Ashkenazi and to the actress Yevstolia Grigorievna, born Plotnova. His father was Jewish and his mother was the daughter of a family of Russian Orthodox peasants.
He began playing piano at the age of six. He was accepted to the Central Music School at age eight studying with Anaida Sumbatyan. Ashkenazy attended the Moscow Conservatory where he studied with Lev Oborin and Boris Zemliansky. He won second prize in the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1955 and the first prize in the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels in 1956. He shared the first prize in the 1962 International Tchaikovsky Competition with British pianist John Ogdon. As a student, like many in that period, he was harassed by the KGB to become an "informer". He did not really cooperate, despite pressures from the authorities. In 1961 he married the Iceland-born Þórunn Jóhannsdóttir, who studied piano at the Moscow Conservatoire. To marry Ashkenazy, Þórunn was forced to give up her Icelandic citizenship and declare that she wanted to live in the USSR. (Her name is usually transliterated as Thorunn and her nickname was Dódý. She recorded as Dódý Ashkenazy.)
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (/prəˈkɒfiɛf, proʊ-, -ˈkɔː-, -ˈkoʊ-, -jɛf, -jɛv, -iəf/;Russian: Сергей Сергеевич Прокофьев, tr. Sergej Sergeevič Prokof'ev; 15/27 April 1891 – 5 March 1953) was a Russian and Soviet composer, pianist and conductor. As the creator of acknowledged masterpieces across numerous musical genres, he is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century. His works include such widely heard works as the March from The Love for Three Oranges, the suite Lieutenant Kijé, the ballet Romeo and Juliet – from which "Dance of the Knights" is taken – and Peter and the Wolf. Of the established forms and genres in which he worked, he created – excluding juvenilia – seven completed operas, seven symphonies, eight ballets, five piano concertos, two violin concertos, a cello concerto, and nine completed piano sonatas.
A graduate of the St Petersburg Conservatory, Prokofiev initially made his name as an iconoclastic composer-pianist, achieving notoriety with a series of ferociously dissonant and virtuosic works for his instrument, including his first two piano concertos. In 1915 Prokofiev made a decisive break from the standard composer-pianist category with his orchestral Scythian Suite, compiled from music originally composed for a ballet commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev of the Ballets Russes. Diaghilev commissioned three further ballets from Prokofiev – Chout, Le pas d'acier and The Prodigal Son – which at the time of their original production all caused a sensation among both critics and colleagues. Prokofiev's greatest interest, however, was opera, and he composed several works in that genre, including The Gambler and The Fiery Angel. Prokofiev's one operatic success during his lifetime was The Love for Three Oranges, composed for the Chicago Opera and subsequently performed over the following decade in Europe and Russia.
Vladimir (Russian: Владимир; IPA: [vlɐˈdʲimʲɪr]) is a city and the administrative center of Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River, 200 kilometers (120 mi) to the east of Moscow. It is served by a railway and the M7 motorway. Population: 345,373 (2010 Census); 315,954 (2002 Census); 349,702 (1989 Census).
Vladimir was one of the medieval capitals of Russia, with significant buildings surviving from the 12th century. Two of its Russian Orthodox cathedrals, a monastery, and associated buildings have been designated as among the White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the past, the city was also known as Vladimir-on-Klyazma (Владимир-на-Клязьме) and Vladimir-Zalessky (Владимир-Залесский), to distinguish it from another Vladimir in Volhynia (modern Ukraine).
Traditionally, the founding date of Vladimir has been acknowledged as 1108, as the first mention of Vladimir in the Primary Chronicle appears under that year. This view attributes the founding of the city, and its name, to Vladimir Monomakh, who inherited the region as part of the Rostov-Suzdal Principality in 1093. It is named there as Volodymyr. Being established long after the city of Vladimir in Volhynia, initially it was named Vladimir-on-Klyazma. In 1958, the 850th anniversary of the city foundation was celebrated, with many monuments from the celebrations adorning the city.
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall. The music director is Franz Welser-Möst.
The orchestra was founded in 1918 by Adella Prentiss Hughes, with Nikolai Sokoloff as its principal conductor. From early in its existence, it toured throughout the eastern United States, made radio broadcasts, and recorded many albums. Subsequent principal conductors, with the title of Music Director, were Artur Rodziński (1933–1943), Erich Leinsdorf (1943–1944), George Szell (1946–1970), Pierre Boulez (Musical Advisor 1970-1972), Lorin Maazel (1972–1982), and Christoph von Dohnányi (1984–2002). Franz Welser-Möst has been Music Director since 2002 and is contracted to remain through the 2021-2022 season.
George Szell's long reign as Music Director has been largely credited for the orchestra's rise to eminence. He reformed the orchestra in the late-1940s, firing a dozen musicians in the process with a dozen more leaving of their own volition. Szell is also credited with giving the orchestra its distinct, European sound. He pushed an ambitious recording schedule with the orchestra, bringing its music to millions worldwide. Szell's influence has continued, even decades after his death.
Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper, (French: Cendrillon, ou La petite Pantoufle de Verre, Italian: Cenerentola, German: Aschenputtel) is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune. The oldest documented version comes from China, and the oldest European version from Italy. The most popular version was first published by Charles Perrault in Histoires ou contes du temps passé in 1697, and later by the Brothers Grimm in their folk tale collection Grimms' Fairy Tales.
Although the story's title and main character's name change in different languages, in English-language folklore "Cinderella" is the archetypal name. The word "Cinderella" has, by analogy, come to mean one whose attributes were unrecognized, or one who unexpectedly achieves recognition or success after a period of obscurity and neglect. The still-popular story of "Cinderella" continues to influence popular culture internationally, lending plot elements, allusions, and tropes to a wide variety of media.
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953 : Russia) Cinderella, Suite No.1 for Orchestra, Op.107 Act II: prefaced here by its number in the complete score: 20. Court Dance (Andante grazioso) 26. Mazurka and Entrance of the Prince (Allegro) 29. Cinderella's Arrival at the Ball (Allegretto) 30. Grand Waltz (Allegretto) 34. Entertainment of the Guests (Moderato) 35. Duet of the Sisters with the Oranges (Allegro con brio) 36. Duet of the Prince and Cinderella (Adagio) 37. Waltz Coda (Allegro espressivo -- Poco a poco accelerando -- Presto) 38. Midnight (Allegro moderato -- Moderato) Act III: 48. The Prince Finds Cinderella (Adagio passionate) 50. Amoroso (Final) (A...
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953 : Russia) Cinderella, Op.87 (1940-1944) Act I prefaced here by its number in the complete score: 1. Introduction 5. The Fairy Godmother [02:45] 11. Second Appearance of the Fairy Godmother [05:01] 12. The Spring Fairy [06:28] 13. Summer Fairy [07:44] 14. Grasshoppers & Dragonflies [09:19] 15. Autumn Fairy [10:06] 16. Winter Fairy [11:34] (From the complete ballet recording) Cleveland Orchestra Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor ℗ 1983 Decca Recorder 1983 Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland Wood engraving: Gustave Doré (France) ‘Cendrillon’ Links & Information: Cinderella (Prokofiev) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella_(Prokofiev) Vladimir Ashkenazy http://www.vladimirashkenazy.com/ Cleveland Orchestra http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/ Decca Classical http:/...
Sergei Prokofiev - Cinderella - Duet of the Prince and Cinderella Op. 87 Direction: Vladimir Ashkenazy The Cleveland Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev - Cinderella - Amoroso : the Prince and Cinderella Op. 87 Direction: Vladimir Ashkenazy The Cleveland Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev - Cinderella - The clock Op. 87 Direction: Vladimir Ashkenazy The Cleveland Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev - Cinderella - Oriental dance Op. 87 Direction: Vladimir Ashkenazy The Cleveland Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev - Cinderella - The Prince recognises Cinderella Op. 87 Direction: Vladimir Ashkenazy The Cleveland Orchestra
Prologue & Amorous Dance – Dance of the fiancee’s girl-friends – Maidens’ Dance – Ceremonial Dance – Wedding Dance. Performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Neeme Järvi. The conductor has added the Prologue from the ballet Op.118 to commence this Suite.
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953 : Russia) Cinderella, Suite No.1 for Orchestra, Op.107 Introduction (Andante dolce) Act I: prefaced here by its number in the complete score: 4. The Father (Andantino -- Allegro) 6. The Purveyors and the Sister's New Clothes (Vivo) 7. The Dancing Lesson (Allegretto) 11. Second Appearance of the Fairy Godmother in the Guise of a Begger-woman (Adagio) 12. The Spring Fairy's Variation (Presto) 17. Interrupted Departure (Vivo) 18. Clock Scene (Allegro moderato) 19. Cinderella's Departure for the Ball (Allegro espressivo) Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra Leonard Slatkin, conductor 19...
Cinderella's Dreams - Dancing Lesson and Gavotte - Spring Fairy and Summer Fairy - Bourée - Cinderella Arrives at the Ball - Grand Waltz - Galop. Performed by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky.
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953 : Russia) Cinderella, Suite No.1 for Orchestra, Op.107 Act II: prefaced here by its number in the complete score: 20. Court Dance (Andante grazioso) 26. Mazurka and Entrance of the Prince (Allegro) 29. Cinderella's Arrival at the Ball (Allegretto) 30. Grand Waltz (Allegretto) 34. Entertainment of the Guests (Moderato) 35. Duet of the Sisters with the Oranges (Allegro con brio) 36. Duet of the Prince and Cinderella (Adagio) 37. Waltz Coda (Allegro espressivo -- Poco a poco accelerando -- Presto) 38. Midnight (Allegro moderato -- Moderato) Act III: 48. The Prince Finds Cinderella (Adagio passionate) 50. Amoroso (Final) (A...
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953 : Russia) Cinderella, Op.87 (1940-1944) Act I prefaced here by its number in the complete score: 1. Introduction 5. The Fairy Godmother [02:45] 11. Second Appearance of the Fairy Godmother [05:01] 12. The Spring Fairy [06:28] 13. Summer Fairy [07:44] 14. Grasshoppers & Dragonflies [09:19] 15. Autumn Fairy [10:06] 16. Winter Fairy [11:34] (From the complete ballet recording) Cleveland Orchestra Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor ℗ 1983 Decca Recorder 1983 Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland Wood engraving: Gustave Doré (France) ‘Cendrillon’ Links & Information: Cinderella (Prokofiev) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella_(Prokofiev) Vladimir Ashkenazy http://www.vladimirashkenazy.com/ Cleveland Orchestra http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/ Decca Classical http:/...
Sergei Prokofiev - Cinderella - Duet of the Prince and Cinderella Op. 87 Direction: Vladimir Ashkenazy The Cleveland Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev - Cinderella - Amoroso : the Prince and Cinderella Op. 87 Direction: Vladimir Ashkenazy The Cleveland Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev - Cinderella - The clock Op. 87 Direction: Vladimir Ashkenazy The Cleveland Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev - Cinderella - Oriental dance Op. 87 Direction: Vladimir Ashkenazy The Cleveland Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev - Cinderella - The Prince recognises Cinderella Op. 87 Direction: Vladimir Ashkenazy The Cleveland Orchestra
Prologue & Amorous Dance – Dance of the fiancee’s girl-friends – Maidens’ Dance – Ceremonial Dance – Wedding Dance. Performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Neeme Järvi. The conductor has added the Prologue from the ballet Op.118 to commence this Suite.
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953 : Russia) Cinderella, Suite No.1 for Orchestra, Op.107 Introduction (Andante dolce) Act I: prefaced here by its number in the complete score: 4. The Father (Andantino -- Allegro) 6. The Purveyors and the Sister's New Clothes (Vivo) 7. The Dancing Lesson (Allegretto) 11. Second Appearance of the Fairy Godmother in the Guise of a Begger-woman (Adagio) 12. The Spring Fairy's Variation (Presto) 17. Interrupted Departure (Vivo) 18. Clock Scene (Allegro moderato) 19. Cinderella's Departure for the Ball (Allegro espressivo) Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra Leonard Slatkin, conductor 19...
Cinderella's Dreams - Dancing Lesson and Gavotte - Spring Fairy and Summer Fairy - Bourée - Cinderella Arrives at the Ball - Grand Waltz - Galop. Performed by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky.
As your hands tightened around your throat
I knew that this time you would kill me
And like all the times before
When I didn't struggle
Because there was no use
Again I succumbed
Again the mask melts away