Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” is the most famous of all works written for “narrator and orchestra.” Combining education with symphonic integrity, this evocative fantasy was designed to introduce children to the different instruments of the orchestra. After receiving a commission from Natalya Sats, director of the Central Children’s Theater in Moscow, Prokofiev wrote the narration and music for this quirky piece in two weeks.
Thus, one of Prokofiev’s most popular works was born. But what has allowed this unconventional work to stand the test of time?
