Prokofiev's Paddy Wagon

[Cato]

Picked this up on the recommendation of GMGers, and man is it a beauty:

James Levine has been most impressive outside of the opera house: one of my favorite CD's of his (no longer in print for some dumb reason) contains a slam-dunk performance of Schoenberg's Five Orchestral Pieces with other slam-dunk performances of Berg and Webern orchestral pieces.

I am not sure why DGG chose such cover art:

[TheGSMoeller]

James Levine has been most impressive outside of the opera house: one of my favorite CD's of his (no longer in print for some dumb reason) contains a slam-dunk performance of Schoenberg's Five Orchestral Pieces with other slam-dunk performances of Berg and Webern orchestral pieces.

I am not sure why DGG chose such cover art:

Levine has a splendid disc of Berg's music with The Met Orchestra on Sony. Definitely worth checking out.

[not edward]

It will come as no surprise to many here that I am a great fan of the Second, and it is the first movement (Allegro ben articolato) wherewith Slava puzzles me most, we might say.  He makes that first movement a curiously lyrical affair, to a degree which almost seems to flout what the composer himself remarked about the piece ("iron and steel"). (Of course, you may guess that Slava handles the theme of the second movement's variations beautifully.)  So, I should call it an interpretation worth hearing, and beautifully rendered by the orchestra, though not an interpretation I could truly endorse.

I wonder if this might reflect Prokofiev's views of the work at the time when he and Rostropovich were close towards the end of his life. I know that he had planned a new, three-movement version of the work to be published as his op 136; perhaps he planned to soften the contours of the opening movement some.

Personally I find the hard edges of the opening movement thoroughly appropriate, firstly as a contrast to the variation movement and secondly given that the work is obviously modelled on Beethoven's op 111. (I've wondered if it's perhaps intentional that Prokofiev's last three major orchestral works all carry opus numbers very significant in Beethoven's output: the 6th symphony--which was originally intended to be dedicated to Beethoven's memory--being op 111, the Symphony-Concerto being op 125 and the 7th symphony being op 131.)

[NJ Joe]

James Levine has been most impressive outside of the opera house: one of my favorite CD's of his (no longer in print for some dumb reason) contains a slam-dunk performance of Schoenberg's Five Orchestral Pieces with other slam-dunk performances of Berg and Webern orchestral pieces.

I am not sure why DGG chose such cover art:

I believe this is also out of print, and contains an excellent performance of Concerto For Orchestra and a slam-dunk of MFSPAC:

[Karl Henning]

I wonder if this might reflect Prokofiev's views of the work at the time when he and Rostropovich were close towards the end of his life. I know that he had planned a new, three-movement version of the work to be published as his op 136; perhaps he planned to soften the contours of the opening movement some.

Personally I find the hard edges of the opening movement thoroughly appropriate, firstly as a contrast to the variation movement and secondly given that the work is obviously modelled on Beethoven's op 111. (I've wondered if it's perhaps intentional that Prokofiev's last three major orchestral works all carry opus numbers very significant in Beethoven's output: the 6th symphony--which was originally intended to be dedicated to Beethoven's memory--being op 111, the Symphony-Concerto being op 125 and the 7th symphony being op 131.)

Most interesting, thanks, Edward!

[snyprrr]

I'll just ask again who we like in Symphonies 2 and 3. Muti was which one?

[Karl Henning]

I'll just ask again who we like in Symphonies 2 and 3. Muti was which one?

Leinsdorf, Ozawa & Polyansky for the Op.40.

[not edward]

Of the recordings I've heard, I'd go for the live Concertgebouw/Kondrashin in the 3rd. It's a work that suits Kondrashin's approach very well, IMO.

Honorable mentions would go to Muti and Leinsdorf, certainly.

I'll second Karl's suggestions in the 2nd--in fact, I'm off to listen to Polyansky over my lunch break.

[Karl Henning]

I seem to remember Abbado being good with the Third, as well . . . .

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Leinsdorf... &...Polyansky for the Op.40.

Agreed.

[relm1]

Any opinions on this new recording?  I have my eye on it but the samples don't sway me yet.  Would love an opinion.

http://www.amazon.com/Prokofiev-Symphonies-Nos-3-7/dp/B00IRDGJAC

[TheGSMoeller]

Any opinions on this new recording?  I have my eye on it but the samples don't sway me yet.  Would love an opinion.

http://www.amazon.com/Prokofiev-Symphonies-Nos-3-7/dp/B00IRDGJAC

For $0.99 you can purchase the alternate ending. That's funny.

I am interested to hear it, It's available on Spotify so I'll have a listen. Thanks you posting!

[TheGSMoeller]

Any opinions on this new recording?  I have my eye on it but the samples don't sway me yet.  Would love an opinion.

http://www.amazon.com/Prokofiev-Symphonies-Nos-3-7/dp/B00IRDGJAC

 

I'm going to pass on buying the Karabits disc of Nos. 3 & 7, sampled a good amount on Spotify (more than half of each piece) and it was very uninspiring to me. The energy felt lackluster in the 3rd, and the 7th felt too bland.
Now the Gergiev I did buy, and it also is a little disappointing. I have yet to listen to the PC as I went straight for the Symphony No. 5. The performance is well-played, very exciting and swift which is what I expect from Gergiev, but there's little emotion to match the brawniness.

[Daverz]

I'll just ask again who we like in Symphonies 2 and 3. Muti was which one?

I remember Chailly as being spectacular.

[TheGSMoeller]

I'll just ask again who we like in Symphonies 2 and 3. Muti was which one?

Leinsdorf, Ozawa & Polyansky for the Op.40.

I remember Chailly as being spectacular.

I agree with these... No.2 Leinsdorf, Ozawa, and No.3 Muti, Chailly

[Mirror Image]

Now the Gergiev I did buy, and it also is a little disappointing. I have yet to listen to the PC as I went straight for the Symphony No. 5. The performance is well-played, very exciting and swift which is what I expect from Gergiev, but there's little emotion to match the brawniness.

Pretty much what I figured. I haven't impressed with a Gergiev recording in years.

[relm1]

 

I'm going to pass on buying the Karabits disc of Nos. 3 & 7, sampled a good amount on Spotify (more than half of each piece) and it was very uninspiring to me. The energy felt lackluster in the 3rd, and the 7th felt too bland.
Now the Gergiev I did buy, and it also is a little disappointing. I have yet to listen to the PC as I went straight for the Symphony No. 5. The performance is well-played, very exciting and swift which is what I expect from Gergiev, but there's little emotion to match the brawniness.

I just listened to the Karabits disc of Nos. 3 & 7 and found it disappointing.  Symphony No. 3 is tame in an Ozawa cycle way.  Basically, the emphasis is on the lyricism so the melodies are phrased at the expense of the manic violence.  But then on Symphony No. 7, which should benefit from this approach, it dragged and lacked wit.  The recording is also quite strange in its balance.  There are close mics that pick up instruments that are really just a gesture and in a live context, would not really be heard as much as provide an accent or color to someone else.  For example, individual notes of the harp are heard as if closely miced even against loud tutti brass stabs.  The reason why this matters is that is not a natural sound and the blend of textures is lost.  Very important with Prokofiev.  Meanwhile, fff tam-tam smashes are tame.  This would be earth shaking in performance.  Horns and percussion sound very distant but solo trombone right in your ear.  Just a very unnatural blend...my search continues. 

I heard MTT/San Francisco play this live and wow they went for the jugular and that is what I am trying to find but unfortunately, it is not available.  I did hear it on their radio blog and it reminded me what an intense performance that was.

[Ken B]

I have no R&J. Not even a suite or a waltz. Bupkis. So which R&J recordings are excellent ones?

[TheGSMoeller]

I have no R&J. Not even a suite or a waltz. Bupkis. So which R&J recordings are excellent ones?

For complete...

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For excerpts...

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[Mirror Image]

I have no R&J. Not even a suite or a waltz. Bupkis. So which R&J recordings are excellent ones?

I will back up Monkey Greg's nomination of the Ozawa/BSO recording but I've currently been enjoying Previn's on EMI: