Prokofiev - Sinfonia Concertante, Op. 125 (Urtext Edition, Solo Part)

Sergei Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante, Op. 125, is one of the most important cello concertos of the last century and a cornerstone of the modern repertoire. The first edition, published by Muzgiz in Moscow in 1959 and later reprinted by Boosey & Hawkes, is far from perfect. Between the solo part and the orchestral score, there are dozens of textual variants and apparent misprints, creating long-standing questions for performers and teachers.

Prokofiev did not live to see the work through publication. Any editorial work beyond the autograph was carried out after his death by Mstislav Rostropovich and the Soviet state publishers. One notable feature of Prokofiev’s autograph is that the rehearsal numbers do not reset with each movement, but continue throughout the entire piece, consistent with his practice in other works and publications.

This new edition of the solo cello part follows the manuscript score held at RGALI, the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, which graciously provided the source. The autograph is remarkably clean and provides a more reliable basis for the solo text than the problematic first edition. For a detailed discussion of textual variants, see the accompanying article: https://yuriyleonovich.com/blogs/musings/posts/6507045/critical-notes-series-prokofiev-s-sinfonia-contertante

Intended for advanced cellists, teachers, and performers preparing Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante, this edition offers a carefully sourced alternative to the standard printed text. It is especially useful for lessons, auditions, competitions, graduate study, and professional preparation of one of the most demanding and significant works in the cello repertoire.

ASTA level: 6