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Sergei Prokofiev was a prolific and influential Russian and Soviet composer, pianist, and conductor, renowned for his distinctively modern and often dissonant musical style that incorporated elements of neoclassicism, romanticism, and sharp wit. Prokofiev displayed prodigious talent from childhood, entering the St. Petersburg Conservatory at age 13 where he studied composition with Rimsky-Korsakov. He gained early notoriety as an enfant terrible with avant-garde works. Following the Russian Revolution, he spent nearly two decades abroad (1918-1936), living and performing successfully in the USA and Europe. He returned permanently to the Soviet Union in 1936, navigating the complex demands of the Stalinist regime while creating many of his most famous works, including ballets like "Romeo and Juliet" and symphonic fairy tales like "Peter and the Wolf". Despite periods of official censure, he remained one of the USSR's leading composers until his death.

• Prokofiev caused a scandal at his 1914 graduation recital from the St. Petersburg Conservatory by performing his audacious and dissonant First Piano Concerto, winning the prestigious Anton Rubinstein Prize despite (or perhaps because of) the controversy.
• His return to the USSR in 1936 is a subject of much debate. While motivated by patriotism and a desire for a stable artistic base, it coincided with the height of Stalin's Great Terror. Prokofiev faced increasing pressure to conform to Socialist Realist aesthetics, leading to the denunciation of some works like his opera "The Fiery Angel".
• In 1948, Prokofiev, along with Shostakovich and others, was formally denounced by the Central Committee of the Communist Party for "formalism" (deemed too complex and Western). This led to severe restrictions on performances and income, impacting his health and creative output.
• Prokofiev died of a cerebral hemorrhage on March 5, 1953, in Moscow, at the age of 61. His death occurred on the same day as Joseph Stalin's, leading to logistical chaos and muted public mourning for the composer amidst the massive state funeral for the dictator.
• His music, initially considered too radical, gained immense popularity posthumously. Works like the "Classical" Symphony, Piano Concerto No. 3, the ballet "Cinderella", and the film score for "Alexander Nevsky" became staples of the repertoire worldwide.