Canon
Where to start with Prokofiev
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
StageLieutenant Kijé, op. 60 — Film score
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OrchestralPeter and the Wolf, op. 67 — Symphonic fairy tale
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KeyboardPiano Sonata no. 6 in A, op. 82
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Vocal12 Russian Folksongs, op. 104
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Chamber5 Melodies for Violin and Piano, op. 35bis
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OrchestralPiano Concerto no. 3 in C major, op. 26
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OrchestralRomeo and Juliet Suite no. 1, op. 64bis
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OrchestralRomeo and Juliet Suite no. 2, op. 64ter
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OrchestralSymphony no. 1 in D, op. 25, "Classical"
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OrchestralOverture on Hebrew Themes, op. 34 bis
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OrchestralPiano Concerto no. 5, op. 55
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KeyboardPiano Sonata no. 7 in B flat major, op. 83
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KeyboardPiano Sonata no. 8 in B flat major, op. 84
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OrchestralScythian Suite, op. 20
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OrchestralSymphony no. 5 in B flat major, op. 100
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Prokofiev's catalogueMost Popular
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Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major
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Romeo and Juliet (ballet suites)
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Peter and the Wolf
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Piano Sonata No. 7 ”Stalingrad”
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Symphony No. 1 ”Classical”
Most Acclaimed
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Piano Sonata No. 6 ”War Sonata”
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Piano Sonata No. 8
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Violin Sonata No. 1 in F minor
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Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor
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Symphony No. 5
Most Weird
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Sarcasms, Op. 17piano — pure contempt, nothing melodic about it
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Scythian Suitepre-Rite of Spring pagan violence
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Visions fugitives20 tiny piano pieces, each a different personality
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Toccata in D minor, Op. 11perpetual motion machine, relentless
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Piano Sonata No. 2 in D minorhis most structurally unhinged early work
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 142
- Stage
- ● Lieutenant Kijé, op. 60 — Film score
- Alexander Nevsky — Film score
- Betrothal in a Monastery, op. 86 — Opera
- Boris Godunov, op. 70bis — Incidental music
- Chout, op. 21 — Ballet
- Cinderella, op. 87 — Ballet
- Egyptian Nights — Incidental music
- Eugene Onegin, op. 71 — Incidental music
- Hamlet, op. 77 — Incidental music
- Ivan the Terrible, op. 116
- Maddalena, op. 13 — Opera
- On the Dnieper, op. 51 — Ballet
- Pique Dame, op. 70 — Film score
- Romeo and Juliet, op. 64 — Ballet
- Semyon Kotko, op. 81 — Opera
- The Fiery Angel, op. 37 — Opera
- The Gambler, op. 24 — Opera
- The Love for Three Oranges, op. 33 — Opera
- The Prodigal Son, op.46 — Ballet
- The Tale of the Stone Flower, op. 118 — Ballet
- War and Peace, op. 91 — Opera
- Orchestral
- ● Peter and the Wolf, op. 67 — Symphonic fairy tale
- ● Piano Concerto no. 3 in C major, op. 26
- ● Romeo and Juliet Suite no. 1, op. 64bis
- ● Romeo and Juliet Suite no. 2, op. 64ter
- ● Symphony no. 1 in D, op. 25, "Classical"
- Overture on Hebrew Themes, op. 34 bis
- Piano Concerto no. 5, op. 55
- Scythian Suite, op. 20
- Symphony no. 5 in B flat major, op. 100
- Violin Concerto no. 1 in D major, op. 19
- Violin Concerto no. 2 in G minor, op. 63
- 2 Pushkin Waltzes, op. 120
- 4 Marches for Brass Band, op. 69
- 4 Portraits and Dénoument, op. 49
- Anthem for Military Band, op. 98
- Boris Godunov, incidental music, op. 70 bis
- Cello Concerto in E minor, op. 58
- Chout, suite from the ballet, op. 21b
- Cinderella Suite no. 1, op. 107
- Cinderella Suite no. 2, op. 108
- Cinderella Suite no. 3, op. 109
- Concertino for Cello and Orchestra in G minor, op. 132
- Divertissement, op. 43
- Dreams, op. 6 — Symphonic poem
- Egyptian Nights, op. 61
- Hamlet, incidental music, op. 77
- Le pas d'acier, op. 41 bis
- March for Military Band in B flat major, op. 99
- Ode to the End of the War, for winds, 8 harps, 4 pianos, brass, percussion and double basses, op. 105
- Overture in B flat major, for 17 instruments, op. 42, "American"
- Piano Concerto no. 1 in D flat major, op. 10
- Piano Concerto no. 2 in G minor, op. 16
- Piano Concerto no. 4 in B flat major, op. 53
- Romeo and Juliet Suite no. 3, op. 101
- Russian Overture, op. 72
- Semyon Kotko Op.81 bis
- Sinfonia Concertante in E minor, for cello and orchestra, op. 125
- Sinfonietta in A major, op. 48
- Sinfonietta in A major, op. 5
- Summer Day, op. 65bis
- Summer Night, op. 123
- Symphonic Song, op. 57
- Symphony no. 2 in D minor, op. 40
- Symphony no. 3 in C minor, op. 44
- Symphony no. 6 in E flat minor, op. 111
- Symphony no. 7 in C sharp minor, op. 131
- The Love for Three Oranges, op. 33 bis
- The Year 1941, op. 90
- Thirty Years, op. 113
- Waltz Suite, op. 110
- War and Peace
- Keyboard
- Piano Sonata no. 6 in A, op. 82
- Piano Sonata no. 7 in B flat major, op. 83
- Piano Sonata no. 8 in B flat major, op. 84
- 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, op. 75
- 10 Pieces, op. 12
- 10 Pieces, op. 97
- 2 Sonatinas, op. 54
- 3 Pensées, op. 62
- 3 Pieces, op. 59
- 3 Pieces, op. 95
- 3 Pieces, op. 96
- 4 Etudes, op. 2
- 4 Pieces, op. 3
- 4 Pieces, op. 32
- 4 Pieces, op. 4
- 5 Sarcasms, op. 17
- 6 Pieces, op. 102
- 6 Pieces, op. 52
- Juvenilia
- Music for Children, op. 65
- Piano Sonata no. 1 in F minor, op. 1
- Piano Sonata no. 2 in D minor, op. 14
- Piano Sonata no. 3 in A minor, op. 28, "From Old Notebooks"
- Piano Sonata no. 4 in C minor, op. 29
- Piano Sonata no. 9 in C major, op. 103
- Prelude and Fugue in D minor
- Tales of an Old Grandmother, op. 31
- Things in Themselves, 2 pieces, op. 45
- Toccata, op. 11
- Visions fugitives, op. 22
- Waltzes
- Vocal
- 12 Russian Folksongs, op. 104
- 2 Choruses, op. 66a
- 2 Duets, for tenor and baritone, op. 106
- 2 Poems, op. 9
- 3 Children's Song, op. 68
- 3 Romances, op. 73
- 4 Songs, for chorus and piano, op. 66b
- 5 Poems, op. 23
- 5 Poems, op. 27
- 5 Poems, op. 36
- 5 Songs without Words, op. 35
- 6 Songs, op. 66
- 7 Songs, op. 79
- 7 Songs, op. 89
- Alexander Nevsky, op. 78 — Cantata
- Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution, for 2 choruses, accordions and orchestra, op. 74
- Flourish, Mighty Homeland, op. 114 — Cantata
- Green Jar, folk song for voice and piano
- Hail to Stalin, op. 85 — Cantata
- On Guard of Peace, for narrator, mezzo-soprano, chorus, boys' chorus and orchestra, op. 124 — Oratorio
- Soldiers' Marching Song, for chorus and piano, op. 121
- Songs of Our Times, for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, op. 76
- The Ugly Duckling, op. 18
- To My Homeland
- Chamber
- 5 Melodies for Violin and Piano, op. 35bis
- Adagio for Cello and Piano, op. 97bis
- Ballade for Cello and Piano in C minor, op. 15
- Cello Sonata in C major, op. 119
- Eleonora, for harp
- Flute Sonata in D major, op. 94
- Overture on Hebrew Themes, for clarinet, string quartet and piano, op. 34
- Quintet for Oboe, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, and Double Bass in G minor, op. 39
- Serenade for Violin and Piano
- Sonata for Solo Violin in D major, op. 115
- Sonata in C for 2 Violins, op. 56
- String Quartet no. 1 in B minor, op. 50
- String Quartet no. 2 in F, op. 92, "Kabardinian"
- Violin Sonata no. 1 in F minor, op. 80
- Violin Sonata no. 2 in D major, op. 94bis