A New Ballet From Prokofiev – Gabriel Prokofiev

It’s an old adage that talent runs in families. However, there is a twist in the story of the Prokofiev family with Gabriel Prokofiev, grandson of Sergei, eschewing the purely classical tradition to write music that both incorporates and challenges western classical traditions.

Now Gramophone Magazine reports that Gabriel Prokofiev has been chosen by the Birmingham Royal Ballet to compose a new one-act dance work with choreography by Dutch choreographer Didy Veldman.

Born in London in 1975 to Oleg Prokofiev (son of Sergei) and a British mother, Gabriel’s music includes the traditions of the classics as well as hip-hop, and electroacoustic music. His Concerto for Turntables was performed at the BBC Proms in August 2011 to critical acclaim and it has since been performed by the Seattle Symphony and the Copenhagen Philharmonic.

Gabriel Prokofiev began writing ‘classical’ music in 2003 with two string quartets, written for the Elysian Quartet. That year he also founded the independent record label Nonclassical. He has now produced over 30 remixes of contemporary classical works. Prokofiev has already earned his credentials writing for dance with a score for orchestra and electronics for Katarzyna Kozielska’s Dark Glow, premiered by Stuttgart Ballet. He has also worked with choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh, on several projects with their most recent collaboration, Bayadère: The Ninth Life, being revived at Sadler’s Wells last month.