Franco writes in reaction to Mats' reply to me:

>... remembering that in the Fifties and partly in the Sixties the
>predominant pro-soviet "intellighentsia" in Europe and particuarly in
>Italy, indulged in celebrating Khachaturian as one of the great composer
>of the century and incensed his ballet "Spartacus" as an absolute
>masterwork!!!!

Just remember we are talking about the early thirties, not the
fifties/sixties.....  Furthermore, I don't necessarily see the link between
the "pro-Soviet intelligentsia" as you put it, and the musical circles
Prokofiev sought to please....

regards, Jos