Rostropovich: Prokofiev – The Complete Symphonies (4 CD, APE)

Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Orchestra: Orchestre National de France
Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 4
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Warner Classics
Size: 1.1 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover

CD 1
Symphony No.4 in C major, Op.47 (first version, 1930)
01. I. Andante assai – Allegro eroico
02. II. Andante tranquillo
03. III. Moderato quasi allegretto
04. IV. Allegro risoluto
Symphony No.4 in C major, Op.112 (second version, 1947)
05. I. Andante – Allegro eroico
06. II. Andante tranquillo
07. III. Moderato quasi allegretto
08. IV. Allegro risoluto
CD 2
Symphony No.6 in E flat minor, Op.111
01. I. Allegro Moderato
02. II. Largo
03. III. Vivace
Symphony No.1 in D major ‘Classical’, Op.25
04. I. Allegro
05. II. Larghetto
06. III. Gavotte: Non troppo allegro
07. IV. Finale: Molto vivace
CD 3
Symphony No.2 in D minor, Op.40
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Theme and variations
Symphony No.3 in C minor, Op.44
03. I. Moderato
04. II. Andante
05. III. Allegro agitato
06. IV. Andante mosso – Allegro agitato
CD 4
Symphony No.7 in C sharp minor, Op.131
01. I. Moderato”
02. II. Allegretto”
03. III. Andante espressivo”
04. IV. Vivace”
Symphony No.5 in D flat major, Op.100
05. I. Andante”
06. II. Allegro marcato”
07. III. Adagio”
08. IV. Allegro giocoso”

Five Stars For The Money

You might find other sets of Prokofiev’s symphonies like Jarvi’s for more money that might edge out this set, but for the money it really can’t be beat. The French National Orchestra which is not world renowned is good because I believe Rostropovich is good. It is the Leopold Stokowski effect where Stokowski used to conduct many different orchestras, but always have that “sound.” Anyone who is considering the Ozawa/Berlin PO version of Prokofiev symphonies should seriously consider this set to be superior in interpretation and almost a match in execution of the orchestral parts. Rostropovich’s temperment in the symphonies is much more even and steady than Jarvi’s. In a sense I am about to contradict myself by saying you wouldn’t be sorry if this was the last set of Prokofiev symphonies that you’ve ever collected. I believe that it is that good. Therefore a five star recommendation.