The Discovery Series: Prokofiev – Quintet in G Minor at The CheckOut

Five instruments that have almost no business being together. Prokofiev makes them sound inevitable. Prokofiev’s Quintet in G minor, Op. 39 brings together oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, and double bass in a wildly colorful, rhythmically charged piece full of sharp edges, strange turns, humor, and unmistakable Prokofiev attitude. Originally connected to music Prokofiev wrote for a traveling ballet, the Quintet has something theatrical about it. Melodies twist into unexpected shapes, rhythms lurch and dance, and five very different instruments continually form new alliances and contrasts. We’ll explore how Prokofiev turns this unlikely combination into such a distinctive musical world, hear the piece performed live, talk about what we heard, and then experience it a second time with fresh ears. Strange, witty, unpredictable—and a lot more fun once you know what’s going on.