Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Performer: Mischa Maisky, Keith Puddy, Andrei Gavrilov, Sviatoslav Richter, Gabrieli String Quartet, Gil Shaham, Evgeny Akimov, Sergei Aleksashkin, Gennady Bezzubenkov, Zlata Bulycheva, Larissa Diadkova, Vladimir Galusin, Nikolai Gassiev, Galina Gorchakova, Grigory Karasev, Lyudmila Kasjanenko, Mikhail Kit, Olga Korzhenskaya, Yuri Laptev, Sergei Leiferkus, Olga Markova-Mikhailenko, Alexandr Morozov, Anna Netrebko, Mikhail Nikanorov, Yelena Obraztsova, Nikolai Okhotnikov, Tatiana Pavlovskaya, Mikhail Petrenko, Olga Savova, Larissa Shevchenko, Lia Shevtzova, Ekaterina Solovyeva, Marianna Tarasova, Vladimir Zhivopistsev
Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Vladimir Ashkenazy, Valery Gergiev, Claudio Abbado, Seiji Ozawa, Mikhail Pletnev, André Previn, Witold Rowicki, Walter Weller
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Decca
Release: 2003
Size: 667 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
01. Sni (Dreams), Op.6
Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.16
02. 1. Andantino
Scythian Suite, Op. 20 – “Ala and Lolly”
03. No. 4 The Glorious Departure Of Lolly And The Sun’s Procession
The Gambler – original version – Act 2
04. The General has sent me to ask you to leave aside your intentions
Symphony No.1 in D, Op.25 “Classical Symphony”
05. 4. Finale (Vivace)
Piano Sonata No.3 in A minor, Op.28
06. Allegretto tempestoso – Moderato – Allegro tempestoso- Moderato – Più lento – Più animato – Tempo I – Poco più mosso
The love for three oranges. Op.33 – Act 3. Scene 3
07. Smeraldina…s bulavkoy…
08. Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op.34
The Fiery Angel, Op.37 / Act 3
09. “Genrich, vernis’, vernis’, vernis!”
Piano Concerto No. 5 in G major, Op. 55
10. V. Vivo
CD 02
Lieutenant Kijé, Symphonic Suite, Op.60
01. 4. Troïka
Violin Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.63
02. 2. Andante assai
Romeo and Juliet, Op.64 / Act 1
03. 13. Dance Of The Knights
Alexander Nevsky, Op. 78
04. VII. Alexander’s Entry Into Pskov
Piano Sonata No.7 in B flat, Op.83
05. 2. Andante caloroso
Betrothal in a Monastery / Act 2 Tableau 4
06. “My prettty…My pretty…”
Semyon Kotko, Op.81 / Act 1
07. Introduction
Semyon Kotko, Op.81 / Act 3
08. Skoti! (Scene 14)
09. Gorit! Gorit! Gorit u Kotko! (Scene 14)
Cinderella, Op.87
10. 30. Grand Waltz
War and Peace, Op.91 – original version
11. “Kagda zhe, kagda zhe”
Ivan the Terrible
12. 1. Overture
Symphony-Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 125
13. I. Andante
Symphony No.7, Op.131
14. 4. Vivace
This set, a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Prokofiev’s death, contains some of the most familiar excerpts from his best-known works, from piano sonatas to stage works to orchestral works, with the exception of Peter and the Wolf. There are also a few excerpts from lesser-known works, such as the operas The Betrothal in the Monastery and Semyon Kotko, as well as the Sinfonia Concertante for cello and orchestra. Unfortunately, the short, four-minute Betrothal excerpt doesn’t leave much of an impression; there’s no way to tell that it’s a comic opera from the dialogue here. Performers on the discs include pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy; conductors Claudio Abbado, Seiji Ozawa, and André Previn; cellist Mischa Maisky; and the Kirov Chorus and Orchestra. Even though these are big names, and the performances are all commendable, many of them seem to lack that extra spark or depth of feeling; it’s almost as if the recordings or performances themselves were “prettified” for a less shocking impact on those who aren’t familiar with Prokofiev’s wit or originality. The exceptions to this in the instrumental selections are the Piano Sonata No. 3 played by Andrei Gavrilov and the Sinfonia Concertante with Mischa Maisky, the Russian National Orchestra, and Mikhail Pletnev. The Overture on Hebrew Themes, with clarinetist Keith Puddy, pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy, and the Gabrieli String Quartet, seems livelier because it is faster than most other recordings of the work. The standout performances overall are the vivid opera selections, which all feature the Kirov Chorus and/or Orchestra and conductor Valery Gergiev. Despite the somewhat less effective performances, if you are new to Prokofiev, this is not a bad collection to get you started.