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I was assigned (by my piano professor @ Ithaca) some rather "interesting" works for the summer. Specifically, Bartok's Six Roumanian Folk Dances and Prokofieff's Visions Fugitives Op. 22. Now, I'll never be able to give her a worthy performance without truly liking and feeling this music. So, how do I develop the taste for such pieces?

I don't think you can force this. You're either going to like it or not, although I wouldn't be hasty to make that decision. And if your professor assigns it theres definitely a good reason behind it, be it technical, musical, or otherwise.

Listen, listen, listen . Listen repeatedly and with an open mind. Listen to other Bartok, the Concerto for orchestra, Music for Strings, percussion and celeste, piano concertos, viola concerto (my favourite), Out of Doors suite (piano). (I mention these because they're probably more accessible than, say, the string quartets). You often hear the Roumanian folk dances in the violin & piano arrangement - that will give you another take on them.

I would very highly recommend Boris Berman's recording of the Prokofiev. In fact, I'm going to listen to it now!

There is a literature reference for the Visions Fugitives. "The title is French for "Fleeting/Fugitive Visions" which is taken from the following line of poetry by Balmont:
"In every fugitive vision I see worlds, full of the changing play of rainbow hues...""- Wikipedia.

Seeing each pieces as a glimpse into an entire world, full of color and spirit, has made me notice the wealth of imagination and creativity that makes this a captivating set.

There must be a kazillion folk dance groups in NY You might try contacting some (particularly international recreational groups) and going to watch/dance along some time. Most international groups do at least some Romanian dances, and altho Bartok didn't use the music verbatim so to speak, it *is* recognizably of that character. So dancing to it, or at least seeing the dances that go to it - very grounded, fast little bounces, etc, would give you some insight into what the music is "about."

Cathy

I don't see any difference between these
and the Bach, Mozart, and Brahms pieces.
The rhythms and harmonies are a little
different, but not by that much. It's
still standard classical repertoire played
in the classical way.

well, the best answer i can give is time. once, very early when I first started learning piano, I had heard about Liszt's 12 transcendental etudes and decided to have a listen myself. but after putting in the CD in which Arrau was performing these 12 pieces I can't say I really liked them. In fact I didn't listen to them again for about 6 mos. but when I did, I was overwhelmed by how great they were. All it took was time, and it's because of this that I give everything multiple chances. This has also happened with liszt's hungarian rhapsodies, alkan's music in general, some mozart, and not just piano. It also happened with django reinhardt and some J-Pop/Rock.

So, if you don't like them now, just give it some time.

As currawong said, listening is key. I recommend the following:

Bartok:

Piano Concertos 2 and 3 (perhaps one should listen to No. 3 first)
Concerto for Orchestra
Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta
Dance Suite
String Quartets 4 and 5
Violin Sonata No. 2
Rhapsody No. 2 for Violin and Piano (or Violin and Orchestra)
Violin Concerto No. 2
Sonata for two Pianos and Percussion

Prokofiev:

Symphony No. 5
Piano Sonatas 3, 6, and 7
Piano Concertos 1, 2 and 3 (perhaps one should listen to No. 3 first)
Violin Concertos 1 and 2
Romeo and Juliet (the complete ballet, or the suites)
Violin Sonata No. 1
Flute Sonata

I don't particularly care for Picasso but I find myself wondering what it is other people see.

The music you mentioned I happen to think is very good.

rada