Which Sergei Prokofiev symphony is deliberately composed in a neoclassical style reminiscent of Haydn?

Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1, known as the “Classical,” is deliberately composed in a style reminiscent of Haydn. It is a modern reinterpretation of eighteenth-century classical music rather than a literal imitation.

Prokofiev composed the symphony in 1916–17 and completed it in 1917. He imagined writing it away from the piano, partly as an exercise in clarity and partly as a way to explore a lighter, more transparent orchestral manner. Its four movements use the compact proportions, brisk energy, and dance character associated with the Classical period.

The symphony’s nickname was given by Prokofiev himself. Its outer movements are lively, the slow movement is graceful, and the third movement replaces a traditional minuet with a gavotte. The score also reflects Prokofiev’s own harmonic language, so “neoclassical” describes its historical style and attitude rather than a complete reproduction of Haydn.

The work premiered in Petrograd in 1918 with Prokofiev conducting. His later neoclassical works expanded this interest, but the First Symphony remains the clearest example of his playful dialogue with the past.