M³: Musical Minds & Missions Podcast #6: Prokofiev Reimagined: New Colors, Old Fire

Pianist-composer Stephen Prutsman and violinist Steve Copes discuss the Prokofiev Reimagined project and album, a bold new collaboration with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO), which expands the SPCO’s Prokofiev repertoire while remaining true to both composer and ensemble. EPISODE SUMMARY Sarah Cahill speaks with pianist-composer Stephen Prutsman and violinist Steve Copes about Prokofiev Reimagined. They discuss transforming Prokofiev’s piano and violin sonatas into vivid chamber orchestra works, the risks and rewards of transcription, and how familiar music can reveal entirely new colors when placed in different hands. THE ARTISTS Steven Copes Violinist Steven Copes leads a diverse life as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader. A native of Los Angeles, he became concertmaster of the SPCO in 1998. Mr. Copes is a founder and member of Accordo, a chamber group in Minneapolis/St. Paul, now at the end of its second decade. stevencopes.com Stephen Prutsman Stephen Prutsman is widely regarded as one of today’s most innovative musicians, working fluidly as a pianist, composer, and producer across classical, jazz, and global traditions. Prutsman has curated and created programs spanning Mozart, contemporary works, and cross-cultural collaborations and appeared as soloist with major orchestras worldwide and has released numerous recordings as both composer and performer. Prutsman is Creative Director of Phenotypic Recordings and a Visiting Artist at Stanford University. stephenprutsman.com The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) Founded in 1959, the Grammy Award-winning Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) is renowned for its artistic excellence, remarkable versatility of musical styles and adventurous programming. SPCO concerts are primarily musician-led and include a broad range of repertoire, from Baroque works to new music, in close collaboration with a dynamic roster of internationally acclaimed Artistic Partners. SPCO musicians lead and develop the orchestra’s programming, determine members and choose artistic collaborators. The SPCO presents concerts in a variety of venues across the Twin Cities each year while offering the most affordable ticket prices of any professional orchestra in the United States. thespco.org ABOUT THE ALBUM The idea to re-imagine Sergei Prokofiev’s sonatas for chamber orchestra did not begin as a grand concept. It began as a relationship. For more than three decades, violinist Steven Copes and pianist-composer Stephen Prutsman have shared a musical language. Prokofiev Re-Imagined is a portrait of three forces in conversation: Prokofiev’s uncompromising voice, Prutsman’s singular ear and vision for color, and the SPCO’s collective artistry with Copes as a leader and featured soloist. Not rewritten. Re-imagined. https://www.phenotypicrecordings.com/... LISTEN | BUY https://phenotypicrecordings.bandcamp... ALBUM: "PROKOFIEV REIMAGINED" Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Performed by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Stephen Copes, Solo Violin and Leader Orchestrations by Stephen Prutsman Recorded in 2025 at Ordway Performing Arts Center, Concert Hall Recording Engineer Cameron Wiley Produced, edited, mixed, and mastered by Michael Fine Original Artwork by Alex Sopp ____ M³ - MUSICAL MINDS & MISSIONS PODCAST Podcast Host: Sarah Cahill Podcast Producer: AJ Machado THE SAINT PAUL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (SPCO) Jessica Mallow Gulley, President and Managing Director Jon Limbacher, President Emeritus Jonathan Posthuma, Artistic Planning Director Jason Piehl, General Manager Matt Thueson, Executive Producer of Digital Media Kelly MacLennan, Director of Orchestra Personnel Cassandra Flowers, Director of Operations Jon Kjarum, Technical Director Melissa McCarthy Steinberg, Librarian Maddie Swenson, Operations Assistant PHENOTYPIC RECORDINGS Michael Hostetler, Founder Stephen Prutsman, Creative Director Cristin Canterbury Bagnall for BroadBand Collaborative, Fractional COO Mary Paz Cubero Navarro, Director of Product Development and Strategic Partnerships K. E. Sekararum, Project Coordinator Aryahi Naomi Onaga, Operations Specialist Phenotypic Recordings is a media company that brings to light new music by world-class musicians and innovative composers, with a focus on music that highlights the most important issues facing the world today. Artists include Kronos Quartet, Osvaldo Golijov, Kenji Bunch, MoVE (Modern Violin Ensemble), W4RP and more. As another way of amplifying artistic voices, Phenotypic Recordings donates revenue from streaming and downloads to support humanitarian causes identified by the artists making the music. https://www.phenotypicrecordings.com SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MUSIC DISCOVERY NEWSLETTER https://www.phenotypicrecordings.com/... © 2026 Phenotypic Recordings All Rights Reserved