Topic: Prokofiev Symphonies

[Malx]

This request may start an avalanche of replies or a trickle as many posters may have been asked for their thoughts and recommendations previously.

I am looking to add a set of Prokofiev Symphonies to my collection, I currently have the Weller on Decca and would like an alternative take on what is for me a relatively unknown body of work.

Thanks in anticipation.

[Daverz]

If you want something very different from Weller, there's Rozhdestvensky, who does not play down any of the barbarity in these works.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2014/Oct14/Prokofiev_sys_MELCD10011797.htm

I think Litton on Bis is probably the best of recent cycles.  I liked the Karabits cycle, but that got mixed reviews.

I'd also like to single out this Ashkenazy set for praise:

[Turner]

I´d go for the Järvi chandos set, maybe supplemented with a few individual extras, if one is really into them.

[Jo498]

I have a patchwork set with several recordings of 1 and 5, the Ashkenazy twofer shown above, the cheap "white" Sony box with Leinsdorf (2,3,5,6) and Rozhdestvensky in 1-4 (on an older BMG twofer). The last one is quite "intense" and rough but would probably be a good complement to Weller's.

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

The Ozawa/Berliner box was my second set (my first was the Järvi, which I wound up returning to circulation) and it remains largely my favorite set.

I have a patchwork set with several recordings of 1 and 5, the Ashkenazy twofer shown above, the cheap "white" Sony box with Leinsdorf (2,3,5,6) and Rozhdestvensky in 1-4 (on an older BMG twofer). The last one is quite "intense" and rough but would probably be a good complement to Weller's.

The Leinsdorf/BSO box is very nice;  I second this   

[Mirror Image]

I’d personally go with Järvi (on Chandos) with Litton’s partial cycle making a nice supplementary set. The Ashkenazy set that Daverz linked is a good one, too. Speaking of Ashkenazy, I haven’t heard his new cycle on the Exton label (w/ the Sydney SO (?)). Has anyone here heard any of those performances?

[relm1]

Not much to add except to agree with others.  I think the Weller set is very good and probably the most musical which sometimes is a disservice to this music when you want rawness rather than lyricism.  Jarvi is a very good supplement.  I also like Dutoit on No. 1 and 5. 

[amw]

I'd also go for Rozhdestvensky although the orchestral playing is not always 100%. Ozawa, Järvi and Kuchar are all quite good as well—sample if you want—although I'm not sure I'd put any of them in the top league.

[GioCar]

I'd go for the Gergiev/LSO set, mainly for two reasons:
- the inclusion of both versions of the fourth;
- the terrific performances of the second and the seventh.

[Turner]

The Järvi set btw also has both versions of the 4th:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/Jan09/Prokofiev_symphonies_CHAN10500x.htm

[Kontrapunctus]

This series has gotten very good reviews. I have the one pictured and like it very much--great playing and spectacular sound.

[vandermolen]

I like the cycles by Martinon and Rozhdestvensky in addition to the Weller:

[TheGSMoeller]

The Ozawa/Berliner box was my second set (my first was the Järvi, which I wound up returning to circulation) and it remains largely my favorite set.

The Leinsdorf/BSO box is very nice;  I second this   

I'd go for the Gergiev/LSO set, mainly for two reasons:
- the inclusion of both versions of the fourth;
- the terrific performances of the second and the seventh.

I'll let these two do the talkin (typin). 

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

Cheers, Greg!

[Malx]

Thanks for all for the replies - much food for thought.

This may be hard to believe but I had completely forgot that I had the Jarvi box it was for some reason filed in completely the wrong area of my collection, slightly scary!
I have sampled all the suggested sets I could and I am thinking about Gergiev to give a Russian perspective on the symphonies but I am also drawn to Rozhdestvensky, poorer sound and all there seems to be a bit of soul, if that is the right description, in the samples I listened to.

Thanks again,
Malx.

[Daverz]

Listening to this recording of 2 and 3 now via Tidal.  Sounds fantastic.

[Leo K.]

I was not prepared to be destroyed on hearing Prokofiev's Symphony No.7 for the first time (Kitayenko/Gurzenich-Orchester Koln). Wow, simply wow.

I'm now going through the Kitayenko/Gurzenich-Orchester Koln box and have gone through symphonies 1-4. A great journey, I'm totally new to Prokofiev. I've decided this was the year to finally explore Sibelius, Nielsen, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Myaskovsky. Aces!

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

I was not prepared to be destroyed on hearing Prokofiev's Symphony No.7 for the first time (Kitayenko/Gurzenich-Orchester Koln). Wow, simply wow.

I'm now going through the Kitayenko/Gurzenich-Orchester Koln box and have gone through symphonies 1-4. A great journey, I'm totally new to Prokofiev. I've decided this was the year to finally explore Sibelius, Nielsen, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Myaskovsky. Aces!

Excellent!

[relm1]

The Ozawa/Berliner box was my second set (my first was the Järvi, which I wound up returning to circulation) and it remains largely my favorite set.

The Leinsdorf/BSO box is very nice;  I second this   

Did Dutoit/Montreal make a set?  His 1 and 5 are fantastic as is all his other Prokofiev but I'm not aware if they went beyond 1 and 5.

[Leo K.]

Prokofiev's Symphonies 5 and 6 (Kitayenko/Gurzenich-Orchester Koln) are so incredible I'm at a loss of words!

I also listened to Ashkenazy in these performances and they kind of do a better job! I now have the Ozawa set and can't wait to get into that. Aces!