Soon after in 1904, Prokofiev auditioned for the St. Petersburg Conservatory and became the youngest student ever to be admitted, studying there with Alexander Glazunov and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov among others. He also became widely known as a brilliant pianist and applied his knowledge of the piano in his compositions, winning the prestigious Anton Rubinstein prize during his final year at the Conservatory.
While Prokofiev's sympathies and taste inclined toward the classical, his manner was strictly independent. Like other great composers, he mastered a wide range of musical genres, including symphonies, concerti, film music, operas, ballets, and program pieces.
|
