Prokofiev's symphonies

[SonicMan46]

Well, last year I went through a Prokofiev Symphony 'house cleaning', and replaced what I owned w/ the two box sets below - may not have been the best approach (i.e. compared to buying them 'individually') but enjoy both sets of performances; however, the Kitajenko performances are quite exciting to my ears - 

 

[Daverz]

One thing thing that should be said about the Weller set is that his 2 and 3 are gentler than most.  Not a selling point for some folks, but it might help others to ease into these works.  Also, his 6 is quite slow, which works for me.  And the Decca sound is spectacular.  So, as I said earlier, I won't be getting rid of it, but I think it's a supplemental set.

Can anyone comment on the transfers of the Rozhdestvensky set on Venezia?

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/1270738

[MDL]

  I don't know if the Abbado/LSO 3rd is available,but it's excellent,and would recommend it if it shows up anywhere.It was on Decca, coupled with the Classical.
 

Agree that it's a powerful performance. It was released on CD in 1995 in Decca's The Classic Sound series, along with Janacek's Sinfonietta and Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphoses.

[vandermolen]

Sadly, the Weller set seems to have vanished from the face of the earth!

Back again!

[eyeresist]

Can anyone comment on the transfers of the Rozhdestvensky set on Venezia?

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/1270738

Well, I think the transfer is good - it's the source that is the problem! Thanks to Soviet-style close miking, the soundstage is very unnatural. The playing gets a bit rough, and I think there are occasional tape dropouts. Allowing for this, it's still quite listenable, and I don't imagine we'll hear it any better than this. The performances themselves are quite intense and very Russian; perhaps not always "definitive" (I prefer 1 and 7 lighter and swifter), but very important.

[Superhorn]

  I've been listening to the recent Philips set of al 7 Prokofiev symphonies with Gergiev and the LSO.
  It's part of a big and mouth-watering selection of brand new classical CDs my local library in New Rochelle
has just obtained thanks to a generous donation by some one whose identity I don't know.
  I must say that I've never heard better performances of these marvelous but underrated works (underrated that is except for the popular Classical and 5th symphonies).
   Gergiev's captures their mixture of gritty power, sarcastic humor and manic energy without missing to
also revel in the warmly lyrical passages ,too.  The LSO plays with enormous verve and virtuosity .
  The sound, taken concerts at the LSO's home the Barbican in London, is a little on the dry side because of the less than ideal acoustics of this concert hall, but still pretty good and very clear.
  The set includes both the original and revised versions of the rarely performed fourth .
  If you're looking for a first-rate set of the Prokofiev symphonies, don't hesitate to get this.












                                                                                                                              

[DavidW]

I also like it, and have no problem with the sq.

[Benji]

I also like it, and have no problem with the sq.

I'm glad you warmed to the symphonies, David. I remember, many moons ago, you didn't think Prokofiev was much of a symphonist.

I'm a big fan of this set too, with the exception of the 3rd. I had high hopes for Gergiev's take on the 3rd but it was pretty awful IMHO. But then Riccardo Muti's tooth and claw recording with the Philadelphia Orchestra is a bloody hard act to follow for me.

Gergiev's 4th(s), 6th and 7th though are superb. Predictably, by sheer volume of accounts, there are plenty of better 5ths. I'm sure I read that the Japanese release of the set included the alternative 'happy ending' (no jokes, too easy!) to the 7th. Can anyone confirm?

[DavidW]

I'm glad you warmed to the symphonies, David. I remember, many moons ago, you didn't think Prokofiev was much of a symphonist.

Yeah and you know what changed my mind?  Gergiev's set!!

Jarvi didn't do it for me, given my current taste I think I might try Ozawa next.

[karlhenning]

Excellent, Davey!

[Herman]

Gergiev's 4th(s), 6th and 7th though are superb. Predictably, by sheer volume of accounts, there are plenty of better 5ths. I'm sure I read that the Japanese release of the set included the alternative 'happy ending' (no jokes, too easy!) to the 7th. Can anyone confirm?

I have the Gergiev cd with 6 & 7 (it's from Japan and it doesn't have an alternative finale for the latter symphony.

I disagree that these recordings are anything out of the ordinary. These are rather middle-of-the-road performances of these beautiful works. That's a shame as Prokofiev could really use a really brilliant set. It's also weird because Gergiev's recordings of the Prokofiev opears were rather good. But that was a long time ago.

[DarkAngel]

I have the Gergiev cd with 6 & 7 (it's from Japan and it doesn't have an alternative finale for the latter symphony.

I disagree that these recordings are anything out of the ordinary. These are rather middle-of-the-road performances of these beautiful works. That's a shame as Prokofiev could really use a really brilliant set. It's also weird because Gergiev's recordings of the Prokofiev opears were rather good. But that was a long time ago.

I also have the Gergiev/Phillips set, pretty good but I was really expecting Gergiev to hit this out of the park, strangely these are somewhat restrained performances overall especially symphony 1 "classical", I was more impressed with Gergiev/Kirov Romeo & Juliet for Phillips label

I prefer the Jarvi/Chandos symphony set, he has a natural feel for modern performances, more dramatic and exciting nicely capturing the jagged angular soundscapes, also Chandos sound is better overall........and to complete the deal now available at reduced price boxset



BTW I wish Chandos would collect all the many misc CDs of orchestral works by Jarvi and release them in a reduced price boxset,
some really great work!

[George]

I need to revisit the Gergiev set.

[The new erato]

That's a shame as Prokofiev could really use a really brilliant set.

But such a set exists! It's this:

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I haven't heard Gergiev's set but he's so winning in the operas I'd definitely like to hear it.

Sadly, I was not impressed with Jarvi's disc of the sixth symphony (Chandos).

But at the moment I'm still filling out my incomplete cycle:

1st - Muti, Levine
2nd - Leinsdorf, Rozhdestvensky, Polyansky
3rd - Muti, Kondrashin (but there's no substitute for the complete opera)
4th - no actual "symphony" but have the ballet much of the music was drawn from
5th - Martinon (Testament), Leinsdorf
6th - Leinsdorf
7th - Smetacek, Rozhdestvensky, Martinon (Testament)

[George]

1st - Muti, Levine
2nd - Leinsdorf, Rozhdestvensky, Polyansky
3rd - Muti, Kondrashin (but there's no substitute for the complete opera)
4th - no actual "symphony" but have the ballet much of the music was drawn from
5th - Martinon (Testament), Leinsdorf
6th - Leinsdorf
7th - Smetacek, Rozhdestvensky, Martinon (Testament)

Did Rozhdestvensky record all 7 symphonies? I bet his Prokofiev is great!

I agree about Muti's 3, superb! Did he record all 7?

[Drasko]

Did Rozhdestvensky record all 7 symphonies? I bet his Prokofiev is great!

Yes, complete set plus live 3 & 5 separate.

I agree about Muti's 3, superb! Did he record all 7?

Not to my knowledge. Only 1, 3 & 5. 3rd twice.

[George]

Thanks Drasko!

[Benji]

Yes, complete set plus live 3 & 5 separate.


Not to my knowledge. Only 1, 3 & 5. 3rd twice.

Third twice you say? I only know the Philips recording, paired with the 1st. What more do you know of the other recording?

[Drasko]

Third twice you say? I only know the Philips recording, paired with the 1st. What more do you know of the other recording?

Relatively recent live recording with Chicago Symphony on their own CSO Resound label. Coupled woth Scriabin and Ravel.



But can't find it listed anywhere right now, as it already got deleted?

edit: Yep, already discontinued says HMV site.
http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/2715001