Sergei Prokofiev (Pro-KO-fee-ev) was one of Russia's greatest composers. His mother taught him to play the piano and encouraged him to make up his own pieces. By the age of nine he had written a three-act opera. He studied music and composition with Rimsky-Korsakov.

Prokofiev wrote all types of compositions: operas, ballets, concertos, symphonies, quartets, music for films, marches, songs and much more. Peter and the Wolf is one of his best known works.

During the Russian Revolution in 1918, Prokofiev left Russia. He visited Japan and lived in the United States and Paris for a while. For the Chicago Opera Company he wrote an opera, The Love for Three Oranges. It is a comedy mocking the various tastes of different audiences. It is also a play-within-a-play.

In 1933, after fifteen years away from Russia, Prokofiev went home. Musicians, as well as government officials, welcomed him with open arms. He became one of his country's most honored and highly praised men.

Prokofiev was one of the great masters of the orchestra. He varied his music from massive orchestral sounds to simple flute and clarinet duets. His music is always clear, often a simple melody with an interesting accompaniment. His harmony is sometimes dissonant and surprising to the ear, with unexpected key changes.