Debussy/Prokofiev
Auburn, NY
Auburn, NY - Adams Piano Series
Breaking it down into the individual rounds, we see some interesting features. Prokofiev actually won in 3 out of 4 rounds! Only in Round 2 - Prokofiev Sonata #3 and Debussy L’Isle Joyeuse - did Debussy win, but by such a substantial margin that it tipped the overall votes into Debussy’s camp:
Round 1 - Prokofiev Lt Kije Suite won over Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque 55% - 42%.
Round 2 - L’Isle Joyeuse crushed Prokofiev’s Sonata #3. A true Smackdown there! 67%-27%
Round 3 - Prokofiev’s variety (and Impressionism in Fugitive Visions) edged out Debussy’s Cloches and Jardins. 49% - 47%
Round 4 - Prokofiev’s Toccata impressed slightly more than Debussy’s Reverie soothed! 50% - 48%
Men were equally favorable to Debussy as to Prokofiev, whereas women tended to prefer Debussy.
Men Women
Did age make a difference? It certainly looks like Prokofiev’s share diminished as the age bracket went up. We can also say that the over 60 crowd didn’t listen to the instructions NOT to give ties!!
0-20 21-40 41-60 >60
Monday, April 30, 2012
We’re getting close to the end of the first season of the Classical Smackdown, and up until Auburn, it was getting very close! While Debussy started off the season with a winning streak, Prokofiev suddenly began to catch up with his own streak in the past couple of months. I was looking forward to this particular concert, not only because of the beautiful Tiffany window at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, and not only because of the splendid acoustics of the venue, but because a win by Prokofiev would have brought the score to a perfect tie!
Alas, it was not to be! Debussy won hands down this particular afternoon - perhaps the Tiffany had something to do with it, inspiring the audience as they listened to L’isle Joyeuse or Cloches à travers les feuilles!