Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor, considered a major 20th-century figure, known for his innovative style blending modernity with lyricism, famously exemplified in works like Peter and the Wolf, Romeo and Juliet, and The Love for Three Oranges. A child prodigy who studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he spent years abroad after the Russian Revolution before eventually returning to the Soviet Union, where he navigated complex political pressures and died on the same day as Stalin.