Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Prokofiev's Vision Fugitives ... background, inspiration etc.,?

Hi,

What an interesting work, at certain points it seems to attain a more pastel type flow than Debussy!

Can someone provide a link to some background info on the set, its inspiration etc. I have had little success googling for the info only to be taunted with brief insights.

Also, if you could specify your favorite recording of the work that would be great too--CD year/recital date included!

Prokofiev I don't think he recorded all of them though.

Recordings:

I like Sviatoslav Richter's (live) recording and Georgy Sandor's, too.

History, etc.:

The VF Op 22 are restrained and introspective and experimental: many of the pieces are without key signature and remain tonally irresolute (unusual for Prokofiev). Some say that VF #19 is affected by the events of 1917 in Russia. Bartok's Bagatelles are similar to the VFs.

The inscription to the VFs is

"In every fugitive vision I see worlds
Full of the changing rainbow hues" (Balmont)

agreed, but i believe there are only a selected few (think 5) from the set. Co
incidentally, i just bought the visions fugitives... not sure why either.

Cool cool,
TFingers: which recital was it of Richter's? I must check out Sandor's interpretation and I shall also go on the lookout for Bartok's bagatelles. I never really understood Bartok or Prokofiev for that matter, but I seem to be finaly able to understand the latter.

Proko: I'm actually going to buy that cd! I looked on Amazon and saw it for 17$ but I remember seeing it for a lot cheaper at around 8-10$. I know it was offered by different labels, which one do you have?

Skeletony: It appears to me that the visions are the type of pieces that you could only be truly satisfied listening to your own recording of the pieces =) Such a personal stamp can be put on them!

Thanks guys and gals,

I have the Naxos one. It's quite a bit cheaper. I quite like the Naxos Historical recordings.

They aren't very difficult to play right? I might try them out some time. And of course I won't underestimate them. And good recording tips? Yeah Richter, Sandor, and?

Daniel, I don't know at what recital Richter was playing the selections from VF.

Gilels recorded a few of them, gorgeous.

There's a few great ones on the Richter Rediscovered disc, especially the c# minor one (Inquieto).

Thanks all, I look forward to hearing Bartok's Bagatelles !