Composer: Sergey Prokofiev
Orchestra: Minneapolis Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Antal Dorati
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Mercury
Size: 382 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Prokofiev: Scythian Suite, Op.20 – “Ala and Lolly” – 1. Invocation to Veles and Ala
02. Prokofiev: Scythian Suite, Op.20 – “Ala and Lolly” – 2. The Evil God and Dance of the Pagan Monsters
03. Prokofiev: Scythian Suite, Op.20 – “Ala and Lolly” – 3. Night
04. Prokofiev: Scythian Suite, Op.20 – “Ala and Lolly” – 4. Lolly’s Pursuit of the Evil God, and Sunrise
05. Prokofiev: The Love for Three Oranges, Symphonic Suite, Op.33 bis – 1. The Ridiculous People
06. Prokofiev: The Love for Three Oranges, Symphonic Suite, Op.33 bis – 2. Infernal Scene
07. Prokofiev: The Love for Three Oranges, Symphonic Suite, Op.33 bis – 3. March
08. Prokofiev: The Love for Three Oranges, Symphonic Suite, Op.33 bis – 4. Scherzo
09. Prokofiev: The Love for Three Oranges, Symphonic Suite, Op.33 bis – 5. The Prince and the Princess
10. Prokofiev: The Love for Three Oranges, Symphonic Suite, Op.33 bis – 6. The Escape
11. Prokofiev: Symphony No.5 in B flat, Op.100 – 1. Andante
12. Prokofiev: Symphony No.5 in B flat, Op.100 – 2. Allegro marcato
13. Prokofiev: Symphony No.5 in B flat, Op.100 – 3. Adagio
14. Prokofiev: Symphony No.5 in B flat, Op.100 – 4. Allegro giocoso
The superb musical imagination of Prokofiev!
Sergei Prokofiev, born in 1891, was an adored only child with a highly musical mother. He had composed two operas by his 11th birthday. From 1905 studying at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he became known as an arrogant, rebellious composer of brashly modernist music. It seems almost incredulous that recordings make in 1957 and 1959, even though remastered, can have such superior sound qualities. And the musical color with the contrasting orchestral elements used by Prokofiev in these three varied compositions is simply masterful. The two suites are absolute delights while the Symphony No. 5 is thrilling! The Scythian Suite contains hectically rhythmic and dissonant music some what in the vein of early Stravinsky. The Love for Three Oranges was written under commission in the United States and was the only one of his operas to win international fame in his lifetime. The Symphony No. 5 was composed in the darkest days of World War II and it’s premiere in 1945 was heard against the thunderous background of an artillery salute.