Prokofiev symphonies

[Guest]

Listening to the Weller box of Prokofiev symphonies and wondering which other sets to get. The main ones seems to be: Rozhdestvensky, Ashkenazy, Gergiev and Jarvi, plus the highly reviewed Kitaienko.

Thoughts on these - or other sets - and individual symphonies appreciated.

[visualnickmos]

The Weller and Rozhdestvensky sets, I am not familiar with, but I can vouch for Gergiev and Jarvi - and, perhaps surprisingly, the Naxos performances with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine/Theodore Kochar. This is a set I am very partial to - definitely 'up there' with the rest, you mention.

[makropulos]

Listening to the Weller box of Prokofiev symphonies and wondering which other sets to get. The main ones seems to be: Rozhdestvensky, Ashkenazy, Gergiev and Jarvi, plus the highly reviewed Kitaienko.

Thoughts on these - or other sets - and individual symphonies appreciated.

I often think that the Prokofiev Symphonies are one of the best things Rozhdestvensky has done - definitely worth getting if you can find it at a sensible price. I like a lot of Martinon's cycle too. As for individual performances, Szell's No. 5 is pretty tremendous, I love Bernstein's NYPO Classical Symphony, and Anosov's No. 7 (never on CD as far as I know, on a Supraphon LP) has the original quiet ending, without the jolly coda that Prokofiev tacked on to the end which is played by most other conductors. Ansermet's No. 6 has some impressive moments. Leinsdorf's Prokofiev box has some excellent performances by the Boston SO (not a complete cycle though - just 2, 3, 5 and 6) and it's absurdly cheap, and includes the Piano Concertos with John Browning as well.

[Mahlerei]

makropulos

Gosh, there's a lot there; many thanks. Toying with the Rozhdestvensky and sounds if Leinsdorf deserves a look in as well.

[HighlandDougie]

If you can find it, the Mravinsky/ Leningrad PO Sixth on Praga is stunning (I have an ancient Artia LP of an older but no less impressive performance from this combination). Leinsdorf's recording quality lets him down a bit. I recently "refound" a CD which is of John Browning and Leinsdorf doing the 3rd Piano Concerto (sorry, of Prokofiev) but with the Philharmonia. Excellent recording which puts his Boston version somewhat in the shade. Pity Capitol didn't record any more Prokofiev with Leinsdorf

[Ferretfancy]

I would strongly endorse makropoulos's recommendation of the Leinsdorf set, especially for his performance of No. 6. I shall be hearing this symphony tomorrow at the RFH by the LPO with Jurowski at the helm, I think it's Prokofiev's masterpiece, with a depth of feeling that he did not always achieve in his other works.
As part of this Prokofiev festival there was a fine performance of the 7th conducted by Alexander Verdernikov last Friday, which has the ending with its dying fall, and a superb performance by Danjula Ishizaka of the rather odd Cello Concerto Op. 58, the piece which was re-written as the Symphony Concertante for Rostropovich.

[HighlandDougie]

Apologies, Mahlerei, as I see that the Mravinsky 6th/Baudo 5th on Praga sells for silly prices but it's a CD which is worth storing away in that, "if I ever see it", category. I grew up with Rozhdestvensky, which I still treasure on LP. I'd be very happy if I thought that the Jurowski 6th was going to appear on CD in due course as I much liked his 5th with the LPO in the RFH a couple of years ago. Gergiev, whom I heard doing the cycle in Edinburgh in 2008, varies from wonderful to a bit idiosyncratic but is never dull, although the Barbican recordings are a bit sub-fusc.

[Petrushka]

I have that Weller box and am well happy with it. Vintage Decca sound engineered by Kenneth Wilkinson, good performances. No need to look any further really but must admit I'd be tempted by the Rozhdestvensky set. I have his 6th on a Melodiya LP purchased from a Moscow Beriozka shop in 1982.

[PJPJ]

Of the Prokofiev recordings I have heard, I enjoy Kitajenko's rather more than Gergiev's on the whole; K's tempi are better judged.

Mravinsky's 6th is well worth acquiring, as is Rozhdestvensky's set.

[Nick Armstrong]

The live broadcast of Jurowski's performance of No. 6 with the LPO tonight will be worth hearing and recording off R3 if possible

[Alison]

I enjoy the symphonies a lot and yet don't feel compelled to acquire multiple versions.

With Jarvi and Gergiev my appetite seems almost fully satisfied with an honourable mention

for Rattle in the Fifth.

[Beef Oven]

I enjoy the symphonies a lot and yet don't feel compelled to acquire multiple versions.

With Jarvi and Gergiev my appetite seems almost fully satisfied with an honourable mention

for Rattle in the Fifth.

I really struggle with Prokofiev's symphonies. I'm ok with 2, 3 & 4 ( I have them by Rostropovich), but the rest do nothing for me. I have a ticket for Symphony no. 5 with the London Philharmonic conducted by Yannick Nezet-Seguin at the Southbank on Feb 1st. That might help a bit!

[Ferretfancy]

I really struggle with Prokofiev's symphonies. I'm ok with 2, 3 & 4 ( I have them by Rostropovich), but the rest do nothing for me. I have a ticket for Symphony no. 5 with the London Philharmonic conducted by Yannick Nezet-Seguin at the Southbank on Feb 1st. That might help a bit!

You should enjoy No. 5, Alison. Last night's concert at the Festival Hall gave us a splendid performance of No.6, which I think is his best. The only spoiler was the idiot who
yelled 'bravo' at the top of his voice right on top of the final chord!

I also find the first three symphonies rather hard work, although they are fascinating. Perhaps I was put off listening to No. 3, because of its links with his opera The Flaming Angel. Way back in about 1958 the BBC broadcast it live, and I had the task of sitting all evening in a recording channel in Broadcasting House with two disc cutting machines putting it on to used 78 acetates. These were blanks which had already been used on one side, so you had to check every one to see if it was useable while at the same time recording in 4 minute chunks, and all for somebody's office use on a grotty player! It put me off Prokofiev's operas for quite a while!

What does fascinate is the transition in style as Prokofiev makes the transition from his wildly modernist early style to his later mode without losing his personality. This could be seen in last night's performance of his Symphonic Song, where you can hear him struggling towards a style to please Soviet opinion. I'll be there on the at the Seguin concert, and we also get the marvellous Second Violin Concerto with Janine Janson as soloist, I hope you enjoy it !
Bws.
Ferret

[PJPJ]

The only spoiler was the idiot who yelled 'bravo' at the top of his voice right on top of the final chord!

Indeed, a super performance of the symphony.

As for Mr Bravo's premature ejaculation....... I wonder whether he's listening all day to iPlayer reliving his rutting call.

[Parry1912]

I enjoy the symphonies a lot and yet don't feel compelled to acquire multiple versions.
With Jarvi and Gergiev my appetite seems almost fully satisfied with an honourable mention for Rattle in the Fifth.

Ditto but with Karajan in the fifth (I don't know the Rattle)