Prokofiev's Paddy Wagon

[snyprrr]

And, this will sound relaxed in comparison:

http://www.youtube.com/v/Azo68LgdqTQ

Still a beauty, of course  0:)

:mit der schwing

The other two sounded a little militant compared with this more 'musical' account. Jazzy!!! Argerich was just a little too much??? I like written music that shows more of the temperament of the performer than anything.
'

[snyprrr]

The opening to PC1 annoys the stuffing out of me- thank God the solo piano goes off in a completely different direction!! Yes, it's even short, but it feels like Music from Hell, I don't know, do you hear what I mean? It's almost like 'The Twilight Zone'.

[Karl Henning]

That was your post # 7777.

Just saying.

[snyprrr]

That was your post # 7777.

Just saying.

[snyprrr]

Which No. 4? Op. 47 or 112?
The latter one tends to drag just a bit more, I've always preferred the original Op. 47, it feels more like Prokofiev to me than the revised 112. Even the coda of 112 is too much of a shift from the previous music and sounds forced.
But both are filled with good music. But don't ignore The Prodigal Son which is what inspired the 4th.

Op.112

Rostropovich takes 15:30 in the 1st! Many take it at around 12:30! Those that seem to find the balletic in this music seem to win out, and it looks as though Ozawa takes it from the other BigNames, though Jarvi seems keen in the last three movements, but seems a touch fast in the 1st. Frankly, and you should consider that it's me saying this, I thought Kuchar sounded the best in all four movements (as long as we're not being totally anal about it). The drab Naxos sound suits the music; the pairing suits the Symphony.

If it weren't for Kuchar's curve, Ozawa seems to have the most balletic way with the music; on the other hand, Jarvi's finale sounds downright dangerous compared with Ozawa's more dancerly approach.

Frankly, though Rostropovich has a few things going for him, his choice of tempi, and what appears to be a struggling Nat. Orch. de France (I don't normally pick out bad notes, but some of the brass players sounded winded). I mean, that could be me, but, obviously Ozawa's Berliners beat them with a stick. But I think it's Rosty's long ass 1st mvmt. that clocks him. The first notes flow out a bit unnaturally, to me, and I literally questioned the music. But then I saw that everyone else takes a much brisker view of the music.

1. Kuchar
2. Ozawa
3. Jarvi                      Kosler?
4. Weller
5. Rostropovich

Weller plays everything very fast, except for the slow movement, which he takes much slower than everyone else.

[Brahmsian]

More from Maestro Maazel!

Romeo and Juliet

The Cleveland Orchestra
Lorin Maazel

[asin]B002HI6XUO[/asin]

[Brian]

Prokofiev wrote two symphonies as a student, before 1910.

Do these symphonies survive?
Has anybody recorded them?
I'd be interested to hear them.

[Karl Henning]

Prokofiev wrote two symphonies as a student, before 1910.

Do these symphonies survive?

I don't recall (I should check).

I seem to recall seeing the photo of the title page of Velikan, the "opera" he wrote at an improbably young age.


Separately:  thanks again to all who suggested this recording, it's a beauty!

[TheGSMoeller]

I don't recall (I should check).

I seem to recall seeing the photo of the title page of Velikan, the "opera" he wrote at an improbably young age.


Separately:  thanks again to all who suggested this recording, it's a beauty!

Glad you're enjoying that 1/5 disc, Karl. Still a favorite of mine.

[Karl Henning]

Cheers, Greg!

Brian, per the appendix to David Nice's Prokofiev: From Russia to the West 1891-1935 . . .

[1902] Symphony, G major ('First Symphony of Seryozha Prokofiev', dedicated to Glière;  the 61 pages of manuscript include a four-hand piano arrangement and an orchestration of the first movement as well as 30 pages of orchestral parts)

[1908] Symphony, E minor, three movements (the second violin part of the complete score survives in the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art)

[pjme]

This is good: a young Finn playing Prokofiev's fifth concerto!.

http://youtube.com/v/yUWtk81q7Eo

A Fin is a Finn is a Fin. Fin.

[North Star]

Finn*

[Karl Henning]

A fishy typo, indeed!

[North Star]

A fishy typo, indeed!

Maybe he should play some Schubert instead. 

[pjme]

I'll give him Saint- Saëns Aquarium and La mer by Debussy!

Anyway, his hairdo matches his long fingers and I love Prokofiev 5.
Peter

[Hattoff]

The new Prokofiev 2nd Symphony under Marin Alsop on Naxos may be the one. It's a complex work and she cuts right through it. Wonderful.

[Karl Henning]

Well, there have been excellent recordings of the Op.40;  not many, but, more than one.

So another excellent d minor Symphony is all to the good.

[TheGSMoeller]

The new Prokofiev 2nd Symphony under Marin Alsop on Naxos may be the one. It's a complex work and she cuts right through it. Wonderful.

This is good news. Will certainly be looking at this disc, thanks for the info!

[vandermolen]

This is a great Prokofiev CD, not only for the very searching and deeply felt performance of the Sixth Symphony but also for the fascinating vocal version of Lieutenant Kije film music suite and the Love of Three Oranges. Terrific recording makes this one of the best Prokofiev CDs known to me. If you don't know the Sixth Symphony this is one to hear and if you already know it this will bring a different perspective to your enjoyment of this epic and tragic work:
[asin]B00AZOTWXW[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

I love those two songs in the Kizhe Suite!