Composer

:

Sergey Prokofiev

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Suite

Compose Date

:

1941

Average_duration

:

38:04

Movement_count

:

8

Movement ....

Semyon Kotko, Op. 81 bis is an opera composed by Sergey Prokofiev. The opera was composed between 1939 and 1940 and premiered on June 23, 1940, at the Kirov Theatre in Leningrad. The libretto was written by Prokofiev himself, based on the novel I, Son of the Working People by Valentin Katayev. The opera is divided into five acts and features a prologue and an epilogue. The story is set during World War I and follows the journey of Semyon Kotko, a young Russian soldier who falls in love with a Ukrainian girl named Sofya. The opera explores themes of love, war, and betrayal. The first movement of the opera is the prologue, which sets the scene for the story. The second movement is the first act, which introduces the main characters and their relationships. The third movement is the second act, which focuses on the love story between Semyon and Sofya. The fourth movement is the third act, which depicts the horrors of war and the betrayal of Semyon by his own people. The fifth movement is the fourth act, which shows Semyon's revenge against his betrayers. The final movement is the epilogue, which concludes the story. The music of Semyon Kotko, Op. 81 bis is characterized by Prokofiev's signature style, which combines elements of modernism and traditional Russian music. The opera features a large orchestra, with prominent use of percussion and brass instruments. The vocal parts are challenging, with complex melodies and harmonies. Overall, Semyon Kotko, Op. 81 bis is a powerful and emotional opera that explores the human cost of war and the resilience of the human spirit. It is considered one of Prokofiev's most important works and a masterpiece of 20th-century opera.

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