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CPO

Prokofiev: Le Pas D'acier, L'enfant Prodigue / Jurowski, Wdr

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Details

Composer
PROKOFIEV
Artist
Michail, Jurowski
Format
CD
Label
CPO
Released
Nov 01, 2003
Catalog #
999974-2
UPC
761203997428

About

Neither of these ballets receives regular performance on stage or in concert. Indeed, L'enfant prodigue enjoys the remarkable distinction of being ignored both in ballet form and as arranged (twice!) as the composer's Fourth Symphony. And yet the composer's unwillingness to let go of the music tells us something, for although it isn't in his popular, "Romantic" vein, it's a pretty substantial 38 minutes that contains plenty of first-rate invention. And in fact the same holds true for Le Pas d'Acier (The Steel Steps), which many listeners associate with Mossolov's Iron Foundry and other examples of Socialist Realist machine music. In reality, it sounds just like Prokofiev, full of the gawky harmonies, rhythmic ostinatos, bass drum-laden and heavy brass orchestral textures, and the hard brilliance that feature prominently in all of the composer's big works.


So the bottom line is that both ballets are in fact consistently inventive, ear catching, and very well played and recorded by Michail Jurowski, the WDR orchestra, and CPO. Jurowski manages to maintain a consistent level of excitement and energy without ever becoming crude or coarse, which is no mean achievement in the more densely written passages. There aren't many recordings of these pieces in any case, and if you enjoy the Prokofiev of, say, The Gambler and the other early operas, you really ought to give this a listen.
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 21 tracks

  1. 1 Scene 1: Appearance of the Participants 02:52
    Track
    1
    Title
    Scene 1: Appearance of the Participants
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  2. 2 Scene 1: The Train of Trading Peasants 02:42
    Track
    2
    Title
    Scene 1: The Train of Trading Peasants
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  3. 3 Scene 1: Commissars 01:58
    Track
    3
    Title
    Scene 1: Commissars
    Duration
    01:58
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  4. 4 Scene 1: Toffee and Cigarette Vendors 02:16
    Track
    4
    Title
    Scene 1: Toffee and Cigarette Vendors
    Duration
    02:16
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  5. 5 Scene 1: Orator 02:39
    Track
    5
    Title
    Scene 1: Orator
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  6. 6 Scene 1: Sailor with a Bracelet and the Worker Girl 04:31
    Track
    6
    Title
    Scene 1: Sailor with a Bracelet and the Worker Girl
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  7. 7 Scene 2: Change of the Scenery 02:59
    Track
    7
    Title
    Scene 2: Change of the Scenery
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  8. 8 Scene 2: Sailor's Transformation into a Worker 02:19
    Track
    8
    Title
    Scene 2: Sailor's Transformation into a Worker
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  9. 9 Scene 2: Factory 03:30
    Track
    9
    Title
    Scene 2: Factory
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  10. 10 Scene 2: Hammers 04:58
    Track
    10
    Title
    Scene 2: Hammers
    Duration
    04:58
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  11. 11 Scene 2: Closing Scene 03:39
    Track
    11
    Title
    Scene 2: Closing Scene
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  12. 12 Scene 1: The Departure 06:07
    Track
    12
    Title
    Scene 1: The Departure
    Duration
    06:07
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  13. 13 Scene 2: Meeting with Friends 04:37
    Track
    13
    Title
    Scene 2: Meeting with Friends
    Duration
    04:37
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  14. 14 Scene 2: The Temptress 03:55
    Track
    14
    Title
    Scene 2: The Temptress
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  15. 15 Scene 2: The Dancers 02:58
    Track
    15
    Title
    Scene 2: The Dancers
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  16. 16 Scene 2: The Prodigal Son and the Temptress 03:43
    Track
    16
    Title
    Scene 2: The Prodigal Son and the Temptress
    Duration
    03:43
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  17. 17 Scene 2: Drinking Bout 02:29
    Track
    17
    Title
    Scene 2: Drinking Bout
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  18. 18 Scene 2: The Robbery 02:21
    Track
    18
    Title
    Scene 2: The Robbery
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  19. 19 Scene 2: Awakening and Remorse 03:06
    Track
    19
    Title
    Scene 2: Awakening and Remorse
    Duration
    03:06
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  20. 20 Scene 2: Sharing the Loot 02:43
    Track
    20
    Title
    Scene 2: Sharing the Loot
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski
  21. 21 Scene 3: The Return 06:24
    Track
    21
    Title
    Scene 3: The Return
    Duration
    06:24
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
    Conductor
    Michail Jurowski