Russia to celebrate 133rd birthday of great composer

On 23 April the Mariinsky Theatre celebrate the 133rd birthday of the great Russian composer Sergey Prokofiev. On that day the St Petersburg cultural institution will present his opera Betrothal in a Monastery. This is reported by the press service of the theatre. 

This comic work was created by the composer in 1940. The opera is based on Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play "The Duenna". Prokofiev translated it from English, adapted it and created the libretto.

"Betrothal in a Convent" has been part of the Mariinsky Theatre repertoire for many years. At the moment there are seven productions by the composer, including one for children.

The outstanding pianist, conductor and author of musical works Sergey Prokofiev was born on 23 April 1891 in the village of Sontsovka, Yekaterinoslav Province (now the village of Krasnoye in the Donetsk Region) into the family of an estate manager.

At the age of five he wrote his first play, and at the age of nine he composed the opera "The Giant" on his own libretto. In 1909 he graduated from the composition faculty of the St Petersburg Conservatoire and entered the piano faculty, where he completed his studies in 1914. In 1917 he graduated from the Conservatoire as an organist. Prokofiev first performed his works in 1908.