Watch: A SummerFest encore: Prokofiev’s ‘Overture On Hebrew Themes’ at Colorado College

“Prokofiev wasn’t Jewish, and he wasn’t particularly attracted to the idea of writing a piece on somebody else’s themes, especially if they weren’t sort of a part of his own heritage. But, here it was, it was a commission. …(the leader of the group) handed (this notebook) to Prokofiev, and Prokofiev grudgingly took it home. And by the next morning he said, ‘This is terrific! I’ve got a draft of this piece ready to go for you!’... It wasn’t a problem with these being borrowed melodies anymore.”