One of the most distinctive voices of the 20th century, Sergei Prokofiev possessed a singular ability to blend sharp, satirical wit with a profound and soaring lyricism. Though his expansive career included celebrated symphonies and concertos, it was on the ballet stage where he most vividly captured the human experience, creating scores that demand both technical precision and deep emotional resonance from the artists.

In Cinderella, Op. 87, composed between 1940 and 1944, Prokofiev utilizes a sophisticated musical structure to drive the narrative. Moving beyond simple accompaniment, he employs a series of distinct motifs to ground the story’s transformation: the "prickly" woodwinds that define the comedic bickering of the Step-Sisters contrast sharply with the lush, expansive strings of the Grand Waltz. This score, featuring a libretto by Nicolai Volkov, remains the vibrant engine of our production, navigating the transition from the humble hearth to the atmospheric, urgent "ticking" of the midnight clock.

Prokofiev’s music provides a rich, evocative landscape that guides our dancers through this timeless journey of resilience and hope.

Bain News Service, publisher - Library of Congress