The Tale of the Stone Flower (Prokofiev) The Tale of the Stone Flower (Prokofiev) The Tale of the Stone Flower, Op. 118 (), is Sergei Prokofiev's eighth and last ballet, written between 1948 and 1953. It is based on the Russian Ural folk tale "The Stone Flower" by Pavel Bazhov and is also the last of the trilogy of ballets Prokofiev wrote in the Russian ballet tradition. It was premiered posthumously in 1954, conducted by Yuri Fayer. The work is scored for an orchestra consisting of 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (2nd doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets (1st doubling E-flat clarinet, 2nd doubling bass clarinet),
Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev) sound to the orchestra as it is used both in solo and as part of the ensemble. Prokofiev also used the cornet, viola d'amore and mandolins in the ballet, adding an Italianate flavor to the music. Full instrumentation is as follows: The score is published by Muzyka and the Russian State Publisher. List of acts, scenes and musical numbers. Prokofiev reduced selected music from the ballet as "Romeo and Juliet: Ten Pieces for Piano", Op. 75, which were performed in 1936 and 1937. Sergei Prokofiev himself made the first recording of music from the ballet, with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra