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Musicology:
To many, this last suite is the best of three that Prokofiev extracted from his ballet, Cinderella. Certainly it is the most Romantic, largely because of the music in its last two movements, "Slow Waltz" and "Amoroso," which contain some of Prokofiev's most memorable melodies. True, the tune in the closing number also appears in both of the other suites, but here it reaches its richest flowering in gorgeous orchestration.
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Cinderella, Suite No.3, Op.109Year: 1946
Genre: Suite / Partita
Pr. Instrument: Orchestra
- 1.Pavane: Andante grazioso
- 2.Cinderella and the Prince: Adagio
- 3.Three Oranges: Moderato
- 4.Southern Countries: Moderato
- 5.Orientalia: Andante dolce
- 6.The Prince finds Cinderella: Adagio passionato
- 7.Slow Waltz: Adagio
- 8.Amoroso (Finale)
Like the Suite No. 1, Suite No. 3 comprises eight movements, but on average they are much shorter. It begins with "Pavane," which contains lively, happy music, used to depict the Courtiers dancing while awaiting the arrival of the Prince at the ball. The second, "Cinderella and the Prince," is a lovely pas de deux, featuring a lush Romantic melody. The ensuing "Three Oranges" is a short number in which the composer quotes the famous march theme from his opera The Love for Three Oranges (1919).
"Dance of Temptation" follows, an exotic, deliberately-paced number featuring castanets and an equally colorful, lively alternate theme. "Oriental Dance" continues the exoticism of the previous movement, though now with serene if somewhat lonely-sounding music in the outer sections; it contrasts with a livelier, equally exotic variant in the middle section. "The Prince finds Cinderella" augurs the passion and romance to come. The aforementioned "Slow Waltz" and "Amoroso" provide a lovely and emotionally powerful close to this suite, giving it the resolution the first two suites lacked.
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