Rodrigo Ventura wrote:

>I was wondering what is your opinion about these composers.  Have
>you forgotten to mention them, or do you find them not as outstanding as
>the ones you mentioned?
>
>- Prokofiev
>- Rachmaninoff

I'm not sure that Rodrigo is referring to my list of favorite composers,
but I'll make that assumption.

No, I did not forget to mention them; I did not include them in my "top
twenty" list.  This is not a case of finding them more or less outstanding
than those I did include.  I included the composers who are currently my
favorite ones; I make no claim that it's a list of the twenty most
outstanding composers and am sure it is not.

My opinion of Rachmaninov's music is very good.  I love his 3rd piano
concerto and a few of the solo works.  But, of Rachmaninov's total output,
not enough of it appeals to me to include him.

My opinion of Prokofiev is somewhat different from Rachmaninov.  Currently,
there isn't a single work of Prokofiev's that I feel a strong affinty for:
I am very familiar with his more popular works and gaining knowledge of the
remainder of his compositions.  I have no idea what the future holds
concerning my overall opinion of Prokofiev.

Don Satz
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