Scriabin Symphonies

[rubio]

Which are your favourite recordings for these symphonies (which I haven't delved into so far)? What about Svetlanov (on Melodiya)?

[greg]

the set i have is Muti's

But i don't like his Poem of Ecstasy at all........  i have a version of that which i would recommend, except i don't know which version it is 
anything that's slower than his is good, i guess- he takes it way too fast and ruins it

[Mark]

I have this (my only set):



I've heard the Third Symphony on Naxos, and Inbal's is better. Sound throughout this set is good, too.

[Todd]

Muti overall, though Ashkenazy boasts sumptuous sound.  (Scriabin's symphonies practically scream for high quality sound.)  Inbal has a solid First, but goes downhill from there.  Pletnev's recording of the Third and Poem of Ecstasty is good performance-wise, but it sounds shrill.  I should probably try more Russian conductors, but given how infrequently I listen to these works, I probably won't. 

[not edward]

I found Ashkenazy flat compared to Muti. Haven't got any other recordings: the only orchestral works I'm really interested in are Prometheus and Le Poeme de l'extase (though I do find the piano concerto engaging). I like the Ashkenazy (as pianist) and Maazel recording on Decca for all three, though I'm sure there are better readings to be had.

[bhodges]

Another vote for Muti, whose Scriabin recordings are among the best of his ones with Philadelphia.  Not only is Muti very inside the composer's world, but the sound quality is better than usual. 

--Bruce

[Lethevich]

Can anyone compare either of these two discs with any of the symphony recordings already mentioned? I love them both, but due to not having heard any others, I don't know if I am missing anything substantially better...

[bhodges]

I have the Boulez and love it, although it is admittedly a bit on the cool side.  But if you think that Scriabin is already pretty overheated, you may not need to play up those qualities.  Boulez offers an interesting take on the composer, and I find myself returning to the disc often.  I was a little surprised when the CD appeared, since I didn't think Boulez would be into Scriabin, but there you go.

Have not yet heard the Sinopoli, but have been intending to get it, since virtually all reports I've heard say that it is one of his best recordings. 

Another Prometheus I like is Gergiev's with the Kirov, on his Firebird CD.  It's rougher and earthier than Boulez, but truly, I like both, and the Stravinsky is great.



--Bruce

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I have the Inbal set as well. It's not bad, but for the 3rd symphony I lean towards Kondrashin/Concertgebouw.

[sidoze]

i read somewhere that that one has rather distant sound. Is that true?

Surely Golovanov for these symphonies. His outrageously expressive, over-the-top style would suit them perfectly. Where's Drasko?

[Dancing Divertimentian]

i read somewhere that that one has rather distant sound. Is that true?

Yes, it's quite a distant perspective...but it's not without clarity, thankfully. I'd rate the sound just below the worst of his Shostakovich cycle, though well below the best of it.

[Drasko]

For first three symphonies best options are either Muti/Philadelphia (EMI or Brilliant) or Svetlanov's second traversal (1996 digital) on Warner France. Muti is tauter more aggressive and tense while Svetlanov is lush, more languid and colorful. You won't make a mistake with any of these.



Neither of them contains my favorite Poeme de l'Extase or Promethee though. For Poeme that would be Svetlanov's live vulcanic performance with USSRStateSO from London '68 on BBC Legends, 2nd choice would be Sinopoli with NewYork Philharmonic on DG (with as good Le Divin Poeme).

Best Promethee is probably live one by Richter with Svetlanov from late 80s, it was available on Russian Disc and Melodiya just recently reissued it, both releaseas have the same coupling - Svetlanov's Le Divin Poeme from early 80s.

Boulez' disc usually arouses quite strong love it or hate it reactions with people. I generally like Boulez a lot in romantic and post-romantic music but I simply don't like this one. Performance unquestionably has it's merits, you can hear every little screw turning but he strains too much against the flow and robs music of its inherent sensuality. But as I already said lot of people like it so I guess one really has to listen and decide for ones own.

Sinopoli on the other hand I like very much, he gets almost the same amount of detail and texture in the open as Boulez but doesn't slight the romantic flair. He also manages to avoid his sometimes weak spot of getting bogged into details and losing propulsion on account of that. Superbly shaped performances (both pieces), with finely judged wave-like motion so characterisctic of Scriabin's writing.

At some point, if you like what you hear, you might want to try Golovanov. Best sounding on four separate discs on Boheme. I wouldn't suggest going for it straight away since I do agree that Scriabin needs good sound at least for introduction and those are late 40s early 50s recordings (apart from being on 4 separate full-to-mid priced CDs).

Another superb historic performance is Le Divin Poeme by Rodzinski from late 30s with NBC, sound is quite decent for it's age but unfortunately whopping cut (10-15 min) makes it a mere curiosity, pity.

There are tons of stuff I haven't heard though: nothing by Gergiev, Jarvi's Poeme de l'Extase with Chicago usually gets favorable reviews, Rozhdestvensky's Promethee with Postnikova (both on Chandos) as well. Argerich/Abbado Promethee on Sony (though I can't recall any of them playing much Scriabin) ...

[Lethevich]

The Svetlanov performances sound interesting - thanks

[DarkAngel]

I have the Muti/Brilliant budget set which is good, but normally I when listening to Scriabin I reach for the Jarvi/Chandos 2CD set first.

This set collects various performances with CSO, RSNO, and DNRSO from 1986-91 with great Chandos sound, easy to find used at Amazon for low price. Features symphony 2,3,4 and Reverie OP. 24

[sidoze]

anyone heard Mraivnsky?

http://www.amazon.com/Mravinsky-Collection-Prokofiev-Symphony-Scriabin/dp/B000001LMW

or the one in the Brilliant box?

[Drasko]

anyone heard Mraivnsky?

http://www.amazon.com/Mravinsky-Collection-Prokofiev-Symphony-Scriabin/dp/B000001LMW

Lean, angular, restrained, cold. With not much affinity for the piece coming across. Serviceable sound.

[MishaK]

Best Promethee is probably live one by Richter with Svetlanov from late 80s, it was available on Russian Disc and Melodiya just recently reissued it, both releaseas have the same coupling - Svetlanov's Le Divin Poeme from early 80s.

Curious if you have heard Argerich/BPO/Abbado on Sony and how it compares. I don't have the Richter, but love the Argerich version.

Boulez' disc usually arouses quite strong love it or hate it reactions with people. I generally like Boulez a lot in romantic and post-romantic music but I simply don't like this one. Performance unquestionably has it's merits, you can hear every little screw turning but he strains too much against the flow and robs music of its inherent sensuality. But as I already said lot of people like it so I guess one really has to listen and decide for ones own.

I heard Boulez live with the CSO around the time the recording was made and loved his take on Poème de'l Extase. I didn't think he robbed it of sensuality. I was rather happy to finally actually "hear" the piece instead of being wallopped with a wall of sound with a trumpet riding on top. I've been thinking about getting that recording, but it's Ugorski that has put me off from buying it. I just can't stand the guy's pianism.

[sidoze]

Lean, angular, restrained, cold. With not much affinity for the piece coming across. Serviceable sound.

Thanks. I could have guessed that (except for the restrained part maybe)

[Keemun]

Is anyone familiar with this set by Leif Segerstam and the Royal Stockholm Philmarmonic Orchestra? 

[Drasko]

Well, this is actually my attempt to master the subtle art of embedding uploaded mp3 files, but thought to make it maybe bit interesting for others as well.
Anyhow, here are (if the art is mastered) three clips containing the same passage from III movement of Scriabin's 1st Symphony and what I find most interesting is various degree of prominence of first trumpet in all three:

Svetlanov / USSR State Symphony Orchestra / 1963 / Melodiya or MSA or Gramzapis
[mp3=200,20,0,left]http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/24/2018019/svetlanov1.mp3[/mp3]
Svetlanov / Russian State Symphony Orchestra / 1996 / Warner France or Exton
[mp3=200,20,0,left]http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/24/2018019/svetlanov2.mp3[/mp3]
Muti / Philadelphia Orchestra / '86-'91 / EMI or Brilliant Classics
[mp3=200,20,0,left]http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/24/2018019/muti.mp3[/mp3]

yey, it seems to work, for me at least