Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Kirill Karabits
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Onyx
Catalogue: ONYX4139
Release: 2014
Size: 1.37 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Symphonie No. 2 en Ré Mineur, Op. 40
01. I. Allegro ben articolato
02. II. Tema: Andante
03. III. Variation I: L’istesso tempo
04. IV. Variation II: Allegro non troppo
05. V. Variation III: Allegro
06. VI. Variation IV: Larghetto
07. VII. Variation V: Allegro con brio
08. VIII. Variation VI: Allegro moderato
Sinfonietta en La Majeur, Op. 5
09. I. Allegro giocoso
10. II. Andante
11. III. Intermezzo: Vivace
12. IV. Scherzo: Allegro risoluto
13. V. Allegro giocoso
Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 ‘Classical’
14. I. Allegro
15. II. Larghetto
16. III. Gavotta: Non troppo allegro
17. IV. Finale. Molto vivace
18. Esquisse automnale
Of the seven symphonies of Sergey Prokofiev, the Symphony No. 1 in D major, “Classical,” is the clear favorite, and it is sure to help this volume in Kirill Karabits’ cycle for Onyx sell well. However, listeners who know that this cheerful piece is a tribute to Haydn and utterly unlike the rest of Prokofiev’s symphonies will be inclined to investigate further and discover other aspects of his music in the Symphony No. 2 in D minor, the Sinfonietta in A major, and the Autumnal Sketch. Karabits and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra acquitted themselves admirably in their first volume of the series with the Third and Seventh symphonies, giving exciting performances with exceptional sound, and this second volume follows suit. Naturally, they give the “Classical” Symphony a charming performance, and they impart a little of the same feeling to the bright, neo-classical Sinfonietta, an early work that is rather similar in flavor. But the Symphony No. 2 provides a startling contrast in its astringent character and uncompromising complexity and dissonant textures, which mark it as one of Prokofiev’s most avant-garde works of the 1920s. Yet anyone already familiar with Prokofiev’s output will recognize his personality in it, and concede that it has more originality than the “Classical” Symphony displays. The closing piece, Autumnal Sketch, offers moody scene painting that strikes a curious balance between austere harmonies and lush orchestration.