Peter and the Wolf

Peter and the Wolf is the English title for Пе́тя и волк (Pétya i volk), the famous musical composition by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)[1].

The original text

The 'symphonic fairy tale for children' (Opus 67), was written in 1936 and consists of the narration of a children's story, illustrated by instruments of the orchestra. It is Prokofiev's most frequently performed work, and one of the most frequently performed works in the entire classical repertoire. It has been recorded many times and has been staged and filmed in numerous versions.

Translations, film and stage adaptations

In 1946 Walt Disney released the cartoon version of Peter and the Wolf.

The text has been translated into Afrikaans as Pieter en die Wolf by a number of authors over the years, inter alia Chris Fourie(this text available from DALRO), Philip de Vos (.

Another South African stage adaptation was done for children by Elizma Badenhorst in 2018.

Performance history in South Africa

2010: Peter and the Wolf performed in The Basement Theatre (Promusica Theatre), 100 Christiaan de Wet Road, Florida Park, Roodepoort November and December.

2017: Philip de Vos's Afrikaans verse translation, Pieter en die Wolf, performed by the Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra and narrated by Schalk Bezuidenhout, performed in the Brooklyn Theatre, Pretoria, in March.

2018: A version of Philip de Vos's Afrikaans verse translation, Pieter en die Wolf, was performed as part of the Woordfees's "Family Day" in the Coetzenburg Stadium, Stellenbosch on 3 March at De Vos as narrator. (Confusingly it was elsewhere advertised as bilingual, and to be performed by Marc Lottering, but it would appear Mr Lottering never performed.)

2018: A South African stage adaptation for children by Elizma Badenhorst performed at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Studio Theatre from 20 September – 21 October. Directed by Elizma Badenhorst, with musical arrangements by Wessel Odendaal.