Prokofiev's Paddy Wagon

[kyjo]

Sure, Prokofiev's music may be "odd" or "quirky" sometimes, but I find that there's a deep vein of lyricism that runs through much of his music that I find so appealing. One of the main reasons I love his music is because there's so much variety in it - there's gorgeous lyricism, spiky wit, drama, and a fantastic sense of color.

[Karl Henning]

I have just experienced my first inkling of serious interest in Prokofiev. I have long since known of some of his music but nothing had hitherto left much impression on me. That changed when I heard Sviatoslav Richter play the 8th piano sonata. Wow!! What a sonata! So very evocative, and just a huge piece with a lot of depth of feeling. I guess I had always seen Prokofiev as something of an oddball, and I could never tell what he was getting at with his oftentimes weird music. Now, I think it makes sense.

I'm now listening to his second string quartet, in F major, and likewise enjoying it, though I do find it somewhat odd, with its constant, driving pulse and forward motion. However, it makes a lot more sense than it did the last time I heard it, and I think having heard the 8th piano sonata in the meantime has made the difference.

A fascinating and extremely skilled composer, I think. I just have to be in the right mood for his music.

Has anyone been listening to Prokofiev lately? What is an essential Prokofiev work that you would recommend to a neophyte like myself?

L'enfant prodigue, Romeo and Juliet, and run, do not walk, to hear the f minor Violin Sonata!

[SymphonicAddict]

Perhaps it sounds odd because I'm not quite as well versed in kabardinian tunes than you are. Frankly, that's a word I've never heard before. But I really enjoyed it, especially the third movement.

Anyway, I still consider all of his music odd. He was a strange cat. But it's all beginning to make sense.

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll check out the violin sonata and try and get to the symphonies too. Any recordings you like?

Regarding the symphonies, I like these sets: Ozawa-BPO (DG), Kitaenko-Gürzenich-Orchester Köln (Capriccio), Rozhdestvensky-Moscow Radio SO (Melodiya). Even the uneven Neemi Järvi delivers a very convincing set on Chandos.

As for the Violin Sonata No. 1, Kremer and Argerich nail the work on this performance:

[SymphonicAddict]

Sure, Prokofiev's music may be "odd" or "quirky" sometimes, but I find that there's a deep vein of lyricism that runs through much of his music that I find so appealing. One of the main reasons I love his music is because there's so much variety in it - there's gorgeous lyricism, spiky wit, drama, and a fantastic sense of color.

Yes, I love all those features of his music. Although there are some works I don't find particularly good or convincing, he's a consistently great composer.

[aukhawk]

The later piano sonatas represent peak Prokofiev for me.

For a compact survey of the earlier ones I like this collection, she takes a soft-edged approach to these earlier works:


Piano Sonatas 1-5 : Alexandra Silocea

For the later ones I would seek out individual stellar discs, for example I recently enjoyed this fairly new release:


Tales of an old grandmother Op.31 : Visions Figitives : Sonata No.6 : Florian Noack

includes a storming performance of Sonata No.6 and the rather cute Tales of an old grandmother Op.31 (I haven't listened to the rest yet)

I grew up with the John Lill recordings, but I now find them a bit stodgy and, well, not Russian enough,
there are better individual recordings such as Richter maybe, Argerich, Yuja Wang are suited to this music.


Sonatas 7,8,9 : John Lill

[Maestro267]

I was listening to Romeo and Juliet for the umpteenth time this afternoon, and I learnt that one of the sections was lifted from the Symphony No. 1. Which, for some reason, is my least-listened-to Prokofiev symphony. And when it got to that point in the ballet, I realised it was one of my favourite tunes in the entire piece! So I'm now listening to Symphony No. 1 to hear that tune in its symphonic context.

[vandermolen]

From WAYLT thread.
I tend to listen to Shostakovich and Miaskovsky more than Prokofiev but yesterday I enjoyed this terrific CD in the car. I like all three works, which make a great listening sequence. The late Christopher Palmer, who died sadly young, did a wonderful job in making the music from 'War and Peace' into a concert suite, although I enjoyed seeing the opera live many years ago (one of the few operas that I like). Also I thought that Jarvi's recording of the Russian Overture is the best I've heard, with a great declaratory ending. Summer Night is a very engaging work as well:

[vandermolen]

His Fifth symphony is perfection and highly accessible, perhaps not to the degree as the First but that was meant to be a short and sweet classical piece. How anyone can prefer the Sixth or any other is perplexing to me. They all have their varying charms but in the Fifth he masterfully wove his influences and strengths together to create an enduring and meaningful artistic statement. The orchestration is just brilliant, too.  You can certainly hear the screaming in the horns at the horror and chaos of the war, the reminisces and memories in the strings, the playfulness and hope in the woodwinds, and eventual return to chaos at the close. 

Anyhoo, glad to give this thread a bump.

I do rate No.5 very highly but have come somewhat over-familiar with it over the decades, so that it has lost some of it's the feel. Having said that I think that the slow movement is as deep as anything by Shostakovich.

[Jo498]

The 5th is among the most "conservative" Prokofiev, following the model of a romantic symphony that some tend to find obsolete. And Prokofiev distanced himself to some extent with the "ironic" 1st and the more unconventional and daring 2nd and 3rd. This may be a reason why some listeners find the 5th more clichéed than e.g. the 2nd or even the 6th (despite the latter also being closer to late 19th century symphonies),

[BasilValentine]

L'enfant prodigue, Romeo and Juliet, and run, do not walk, to hear the f minor Violin Sonata!

Yes, the violin sonata! Maybe his darkest instrumental work, and certainly the most depressing ending in the major mode I've ever heard. That and the "War Sonatas," particularly the Eighth, are my favorite Prokofiev.

As for the Fifth Symphony: Yes, the most traditional, but it is subtle too, especially in the way ideas from the first movement are transformed in that crushing slow movement.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Certainly the Piano Concerto No. 3 is very popular and there are many recordings. I like the Krainev/Moscow SO album. The performance is unique, and sometimes overheated and fast. But the music is vibrant and colorful overall. The recording quality is very good too. The Gutierrez/Jarvi set is arguably the most popular recording. The tempo is good, and the performance is versatile and (nearly) impeccable. Especially the piano performance is refined and cool. Also I think that the Trpceski/Royal Liverpool set is unique and very interesting recording. I also like the Krainev/Frankfurt, Graffman/Szell and Abduraimov albums. I am not crazy about the Lang Lang, Bavouzet, Kissin sets.

[Symphonic Addict]

Certainly the Piano Concerto No. 3 is very popular and there are many recordings. I like the Krainev/Moscow SO album. The performance is unique, and sometimes overheated and fast. But the music is vibrant and colorful overall. The recording quality is very good too. The Gutierrez/Jarvi set is arguably the most popular recording. The tempo is good, and the performance is versatile and (nearly) impeccable. Especially the piano performance is refined and cool. Also I think that the Trpceski/Royal Liverpool set is unique and very interesting recording. I also like the Krainev/Frankfurt, Graffman/Szell and Abduraimov albums. I am not crazy about the Lang Lang, Bavouzet, Kissin sets.

I have Kraniev, Ashkenazy and Järvi recordings, and I'm very happy with them.

[Symphonic Addict]

Since this thread was resurrected, I take this opportunity to say that I don't like Lieutenant Kijé Suite that much, except the Troika movement (unpopular opinion ?).   

[Karl Henning]

Since this thread was resurrected, I take this opportunity to say that I don't like Lieutenant Kijé Suite that much, except the Troika movement (unpopular opinion ?). 

Well, perhaps like the March from Love for Three Oranges, it suffers from unnecessary overexposure.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I have Kraniev, Ashkenazy and Järvi recordings, and I'm very happy with them.

There are two Krainev/Kitaenko sets, one is with Moscow SO (posted above) and the other is with Radio Frankfurt (pic).
The latter is good, but the recording quality is mediocre/fair and sometimes it is difficult to hear the piano.
Other PCs by Jarvi are excellent as well.

[Symphonic Addict]

Well, perhaps like the March from Love for Three Oranges, it suffers from unnecessary overexposure.

Most probably, albeit Love for Three Oranges Suite sounds more interesting to my ears.

[Symphonic Addict]

There are two Krainev/Kitaenko sets, one is with Moscow SO (posted above) and the other is with Radio Frankfurt (pic).
The latter is good, but the recording quality is mediocre/fair and sometimes it is difficult to hear the piano.
Other PCs by Jarvi are excellent as well.

I have it in this incarnation:



And I agree about the somewhat regrettable sound quality of those recordings. A bit disappointing.

[vandermolen]

Well, perhaps like the March from Love for Three Oranges, it suffers from unnecessary overexposure.

The March from the 'Love of Three Oranges' always reminds me of the 'Parade of the Ewoks' from Star Wars: 'Return of the Jedi'. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ur8dHVxByE

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xaWNKMEkBdI

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Since this thread was resurrected, I take this opportunity to say that I don't like Lieutenant Kijé Suite that much, except the Troika movement (unpopular opinion ?).   

Is it caricature-like too much and annoying?
The cover art of your Krainev/Frankfurt looks good. Still it is a nice recording of good performance.

[relm1]

There is an excellent set of the piano concertos by Rozhdestvensky.  It is typically dynamic and thrilling but broad when it needs to be.