Prokofiev, Sergei (1891-1953)

[Bryn]

Prokofiev used the music from his ballet The prodigal son (first performed in 1929) to form the basis of the two versions of his Symphony No. 4, composed in 1929 and 1947, respectively.

One of the examples illustrated by Radio 3 back in the early '80s. He also recycled in the opposite direction, from a symphony to what is probably his best-known ballet.

[Pulcinella]

Thanks for the suggestions, folks.

Does anyone have a suggestion of a good book about Prokofiev (ideally more on the music than his life)?

In terms of music, it's hard to pick favourites, as there are so many:

PC3 (obviously!): Argerich/BPO/Abbado
But the others are all good (imho) and deserve to be played more, especially number 4, for LH, which should be up there with the Ravel.
The two violin concertos (they jostle for top spot)
The two string quartets
The cello concerto/symphony-concerto (more recycling there)
The prodigal son
Romeo and Juliet
Cinderella

Amongst lesser-known works, I have a fondness for the Sinfonietta.

I don't really know the symphonies that well (apart from #1), or the piano sonatas, though I have them all on CD.
Then there's Alexander Nevsky and Lieutenant Kije.

Lots to explore and get reacquainted with.
One piece I could happily never listen to again though is the Overture on Hebrew themes.

PS: Oops! Forgot the Cello sonata and the Scythian Suite (recycled from Ala and Lolly).

[Bryn]

Does anyone have a suggestion of a good book about Prokofiev (ideally more on the music than his life)?

In terms of music, it's hard to pick favourites, as there are so many:

PC3 (obviously!): Argerich/BPO/Abbado
But the others are all good (imho) and deserve to be played more, especially number 4, for LH, which should be up there with the Ravel.
The two violin concertos (they jostle for top spot)
The two string quartets
The cello concerto/symphony-concerto (more recycling there)
The prodigal son
Romeo and Juliet
Cinderella

Amongst lesser-known works, I have a fondness for the Sinfonietta.

I don't really know the symphonies that well (apart from #1), or the piano sonatas, though I have them all on CD.
Then there's Alexander Nevsky and Lieutenant Kije.

Lots to explore and get reacquainted with.
One piece I could happily never listen to again though is the Overture on Hebrew themes.

Though the 3rd Piano Concerto has probably been more influential, prompting Ireland's piano concerto, for instance, it's the 2nd which is now my favourite. I have also come to prefer the Op. 58 Cello Concerto to the Op 125 Symphony-Concerto, too (another of the examples covered by the Radio 3 series previously mentioned).

[Pulcinella]

One of the examples illustrated by Radio 3 back in the early '80s. He also recycled in the opposite direction, from a symphony to what is probably his best-known ballet.

My Dover score of the Classical Symphony (for it is the Gavotte from that to which you refer, it being used in R&J) has both versions of the Gavotte, the second being called 'New expanded version'.

[ChrisBennell]

YouTube has a complete cycle of Prokofiev Symphonies with Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra under Gergiev (controversial conductor these days, I know) . Worth watching, I have particularly enjoyed 2 and 3.

[Bryn]

YouTube has a complete cycle of Prokofiev Symphonies with Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra under Gergiev (controversial conductor these days, I know) . Worth watching, I have particularly enjoyed 2 and 3.

Easy enough to avoid Gergiev and get fine recorded performances. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7YLbNwtRJQ, for instance.

[cloughie]

Easy enough to avoid Gergiev and get fine recorded performances. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7YLbNwtRJQ, for instance.

Yes Bryn the Weller set has probably been ignored more than most and is excellent!

[Pulcinella]

Yes Bryn the Weller set has probably been ignored more than most and is excellent!

I have the Chandos Neeme Järvi/Royal Scottish National Orchestra set, which includes both versions of S4.

[antongould]

Would it be possible to give the great man his Sunday names and dates ….. please ……

[Pulcinella]

Would it be possible to give the great man his Sunday names and dates ….. please ……

Maybe also Scriabin, whose thread prompted this one?

[pastoralguy]

I have the Chandos Neeme Järvi/Royal Scottish National Orchestra set, which includes both versions of S4.

We in Scotland were treated to a cycle of Prokofiev’s symphonies back when these discs were recorded. Jarvi and the RSNO were absolutely on fire!

[pastoralguy]

YouTube has a complete cycle of Prokofiev Symphonies with Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra under Gergiev (controversial conductor these days, I know) . Worth watching, I have particularly enjoyed 2 and 3.

There was a letter in Gramophone recently where a correspondent raised that question. He had decided to throw out all his Gergiev CDs! I wondered if he’d now throw out his Karl Böhm discs…

[RichardB]

He had decided to throw out all his Gergiev CDs! I wondered if he’d now throw out his Karl Böhm discs…

This is a question of "whataboutery" that seems to turn up quite often, but really the answer is obvious: Böhm can no longer be influenced by anyone protesting about his relationship to the Third Reich, whereas Gergiev and his enablers potentially can.

[antongould]

Would it be possible to give the great man his Sunday names and dates ….. please ……

Thank you very much ….

[antongould]

Beats me, but what are people's favourite pieces/recordings of this composer's work?

.

2nd Violin Concerto - Heifetz, IMVVHO a thing of beauty …