Prokofiev 'Other' Symphonies

[Petrushka]

Despite having it on CD (the Walter Weller set) I've never knowingly heard No 2 so will put that right anon. Can't recall if I've heard No 4 either. I heard the 3rd with Jurowski and the LPO at the Proms a season or two ago and was knocked out by it but haven't revisited it in ages. I struggle with the 6th but love 1, 5 and 7.

It's a similar situation with the piano concertos: despite having had the Ashkenazy/LSO/Previn for some years I've never played 4 or 5

In all honesty, I find Prokofiev an uneven composer. Due to over-exposure, I approach Romeo and Juliet with less than enthusiasm these days, delightful though much of it is. I find it palls very quickly while at the same time recognising it as a thorough masterpiece, if this contrariness makes sense.

[Stanfordian]

I quite enjoy the Prokofiev symphonies and have four complete set, I think. I have been fortunate to have heard six of them in concert over the years cumulatively around half as many as I have heard of the First Symphony alone. The recent set from Kirill Karabits conductong the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on Onyx is pretty good.

[visualnickmos]

7 is considerably better with the original ending rather than the 'happy' one effectively imposed on the composer.

Gergiev's recording with the LSO has the original ending (which I also prefer.) Weller and Jarvi both play the alternative added "happy ending!"

[makropulos]

I'm extremely fond of No. 7, but agree absolutely that it needs the original quiet ending. The first time I ever heard it was a record I bought in the WHSmith sale on Christmas (very early 1970s) - with the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Nikolai Anosov (father of Rozhdestvensky). Completely agree that the "happy" ending is a travesty, and I really can't understand why so many conductors seem to prefer it. I don't know Gergiev's performance and must give it a listen.

[richardfinegold]

The 6th is the one that I have read is supposed to have merit. Mravinsky apparently programmed it 4 times as often as 5.
I've tried him, Litton, and Rostropovich, but it just doesn't light my samovar.

[Dave2002]

I don't bother with the seventh at all.

I think that has become one of my favourites. I got to know it through a cassette tape by Previn, with, IIRC the LSO. Not sure about the endings though - I didn't realise there was a choice.

Give it a bit more time!

Here is Gergiev

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mF8oTzXoyts

[rauschwerk]

I think that has become one of my favourites. I got to know it through a cassette tape by Previn, with, IIRC the LSO. Not sure about the endings though - I didn't realise there was a choice.

Give it a bit more time!

Here is Gergiev
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mF8oTzXoyts

But I have already known it for 40 years! And I have a Gergiev recording on my shelves.

[Dave2002]

Oh well! Chacun....

[Ferretfancy]

I think that has become one of my favourites. I got to know it through a cassette tape by Previn, with, IIRC the LSO. Not sure about the endings though - I didn't realise there was a choice.

Give it a bit more time!

Here is Gergiev
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mF8oTzXoyts

I still enjoy the Malko / Philharmonia version of the 7th, although it does have the upbeat ending instead of the dying fall of Prokofiev's original version

Incidentally, this was the first stereo recording that EMI produced. It was recorded in 1954, and one or another pressing of it has been around ever since. The sound is still very good.

[Petrushka]

Inspired, if that's the right word, by this thread I've just listened to Prokofiev's Symphony No 2. Surely this has to be a candidate for 'Worst Symphony by a Major Composer'? Lasting 36 minutes or so and in two movements the first about 11 minutes and the second around 25 minutes. The first movement is relentlessly loud, I mean, not just loud but ear-damagingly loud. The second movement has it's quiet moments but that too is beyond my pain threshold.

So far as I can recall, this was the first time I'd heard it (the Walter Weller/LPO recording) and if I never hear it again it will be too soon. Beyond belief dire.

[Richard Barrett]

'Worst Symphony by a Major Composer'?

Just because it's so loud?

[Suffolkcoastal]

The 6th is my personal favourite and I also consider it the best. The 1st is of course a remarkable work. The 2nd is structually quite interesting, especially the 2nd movement, there are some scoring issues in the 1st movement, but then without the dense effect it would lose the considerable blunt impact that Prokofiev intends. The 3rd uses the material from The Fiery Angel very successfully, I also a fan of that opera too. I much prefer the original 4th to the later 1947 revision. The revised version in my opinion pushes the material from The Prodigal Son too far and lacks the cohesion evident in the original version. The 5th is a fine work but its popularity needs to be balanced against the superior IMO 6th, a work that is considerably under represented in concert programmes. The 7th is variable it seems to be akin to the ballet The Stone Flower, at times inhabiting the same sound world, but there is also a rather weary, haunting wistfulness in the symphony. I agree that the original ending is far preferably to the revised one.

Let's not forget the early Sinfonietta, dating from 1909 but revised twice in 1914 & 1929. A fairly substantial work that already displays Prokofiev's distinctly individual approach to melody & harmony.

[rauschwerk]

Inspired, if that's the right word, by this thread I've just listened to Prokofiev's Symphony No 2. Surely this has to be a candidate for 'Worst Symphony by a Major Composer'? Lasting 36 minutes or so and in two movements the first about 11 minutes and the second around 25 minutes. The first movement is relentlessly loud, I mean, not just loud but ear-damagingly loud. The second movement has it's quiet moments but that too is beyond my pain threshold.

So far as I can recall, this was the first time I'd heard it (the Walter Weller/LPO recording) and if I never hear it again it will be too soon. Beyond belief dire.

Prokofiev, on hearing the premiere, considered this symphony a failure ("Neither I nor the audience understood anything in it"). For many years he intended to revise it, recasting it in three movements, but never got around to it.

[maestro267]

Inspired, if that's the right word, by this thread I've just listened to Prokofiev's Symphony No 2. Surely this has to be a candidate for 'Worst Symphony by a Major Composer'? Lasting 36 minutes or so and in two movements the first about 11 minutes and the second around 25 minutes. The first movement is relentlessly loud, I mean, not just loud but ear-damagingly loud. The second movement has it's quiet moments but that too is beyond my pain threshold.

So far as I can recall, this was the first time I'd heard it (the Walter Weller/LPO recording) and if I never hear it again it will be too soon. Beyond belief dire.

Sorry, I'm afraid that's the incorrect answer.

[Dave2002]

Inspired, if that's the right word, by this thread I've just listened to Prokofiev's Symphony No 2. Surely this has to be a candidate for 'Worst Symphony by a Major Composer'? Lasting 36 minutes or so and in two movements the first about 11 minutes and the second around 25 minutes. The first movement is relentlessly loud, I mean, not just loud but ear-damagingly loud. The second movement has it's quiet moments but that too is beyond my pain threshold.

So far as I can recall, this was the first time I'd heard it (the Walter Weller/LPO recording) and if I never hear it again it will be too soon. Beyond belief dire.

I have to say that I have some sympathy with this view, though having been alerted I may have another go. I can't actually distinguish well between nos 2 and 3 of contemporary Russian composers - Shostakovich and Prokofiev, as so far I've not learned to like any of those 2/3 works. I'm not even sure about Prokofiev 4, but Shostakovich 4 is really good.

The "answer" may not be incorrect!