Why was Sergey Prokofiev awarded the Lenin Prize after his death?

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Portrait of composer Sergey Prokofiev, circa 1938, wearing round glasses, a suit, and a tie, looking slightly to the side. — Sergey Prokofiev Sergey Prokofiev.

Sergey Prokofiev was posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize in 1957 specifically for his Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp Minor (1951–52), which served as the composer's final major work before his death in 1953.1

It is important to clarify that the Lenin Prize is distinct from the Order of Lenin, which was the highest civilian award of the U.S.S.R. established in 1930. The Lenin Prize was a separate honor recognizing outstanding achievements in fields such as art and science.21