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Dimitri Kabalevsky was a very good composer. He produced at least one genuine masterpiece, his stupendous "Requiem for Those Who Died in the War Against Fascism." Kabalevsky and Prokofiev have always been depicted as having been on friendly terms for much of the time that they knew each other. Prokofiev's reputation was generally not very good regarding his attitude towards the achievements of composers who were his contemporaries. Shostakovich in particular complained that Prokofiev would frequently treat his music with indifference or disdain. Be that as it may, it appears that Kabalevsky was one of the few 20th century composers who was able to ingratiate himself with Prokofiev. Certainly, modesty and congeniality were not virtues that Prokofiev was said to have possessed in any great measure.
