The Queen of Spades (Russian: Пиковая Дама, Pikovaya Dama), Op. 70, is the score composed by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936 for the planned but unrealized film by Mikhail Romm. The film was to be based on the 1834 short story "The Queen of Spades" by Alexander Pushkin, and was intended for release in 1937, the centenary of Pushkin's death.[1] It is one of Prokofiev's least known pieces.[2]
Background
The Queen of Spades was originally intended to be released on the centenary of Pushkin's death. However, the film was never finished, due to the tightening censorship in the USSR.[3][4] Having signed a contract dated 29 May 1936, Prokofiev finished the piano score by 12 July, before sending it to his assistant, Pavel Lamm. When Prokofiev first played the piano reduction for Romm, Romm noted that it was neither lyrical nor dramatic, but "three and then seven pitches repeated endlessly," which added to the films "aridity," as well as conveying a sense of obsession and schizophrenia.[5]
Herman Reads the Letter; Herman in Front of the Countess's House
Herman in Liza's Room
The Ball
Liza in Her Room
Herman with Playing Cards
Visiting the Countess
Herman Takes Notes, Puts them into His Pocket, Enters the Gambling Parlour[note 1]
First Winnings
Herman Enters the Gambling Parlour for the Second Time[note 2]
Second Winnings
Herman Enters the Gambling Parlour for the Third Time
Herman Has Lost
Last Rendezvous
Notes
^In the margin above the first piano score, Prokofiev wrote: "If the excerpt is too long, a cut can be made in the middle, at measures 17-24, for example."
^Prokofiev wrote: "I think the music should end when Herman takes the glass of lemonade—or earlier—so that there will be a sufficient break before his next appearance."
