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Prokofiev: Symphonies No 1 "Classical" & 2 / Alsop
Naxos

Prokofiev: Symphonies No 1 "Classical" & 2 / Alsop

$19.99

Details

Composer
PROKOFIEV, SERGEY
Artist
Alsop
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Oct 14, 2014
Catalog #
8573353
UPC
747313335374

About

Marin Alsop’s Prokofiev cycle with the São Paulo Symphony began disappointingly with the Fifth, improved dramatically with the Fourth, and now hits its stride with the Second. Composed, allegedly, with “steel and iron,” or “fire and ice,” or “potassium chloride and sodium bicarbonate,” or whatever, I suspect this work would receive greater respect had it been written by Shostakovich, whose early idiom it somewhat resembles. The major difference is that Shostakovich had the great good fortune to be persecuted by Stalin for his youthful transgressions, while Prokofiev had the sense to get the hell out of Dodge and return much later, a “reformed” man.

Also, no one ever chastised Honegger for cribbing the opening of the first movement in his own “Liturgique” Symphony a couple of decades afterwards. The truth is that the music is really much less nasty than its reputation would suggest, and the first movement, while certainly noisy, actually contains a number of distinctive and appealing musical ideas. So, for that matter, does the concluding second movement, a theme followed by six highly inventive variations. Without minimizing the music’s violent energy, Alsop plays the piece with a vivid sense of its long melodic lines. The first movement, in particular, has plenty of excitement but also a certain lyrical emphasis that gives the music something to be excited about. It’s very convincing.

As for the Classical Symphony, well, just about everyone does it well, and while I can imagine a first movement with a touch more snap to its rhythms, the performance picks up steam as it goes, culminating in a delightfully crisp account of the finale. The early tone poem “Dreams” drifts about prettily for ten minutes, sounding like Debussy or Scriabin or basically anyone but Prokofiev. Does it deserve greater exposure? Perhaps not, but this lovely performance makes as strong a case for it as you might imagine possible. Vivid sonics make this the best release in this series so far.

– David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro 04:17
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    04:17
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  2. 2 II. Larghetto 04:03
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Larghetto
    Duration
    04:03
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  3. 3 III. Gavotta: Non troppo allegro 01:26
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Gavotta: Non troppo allegro
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  4. 4 IV. Finale: Molto vivace 03:58
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Finale: Molto vivace
    Duration
    03:58
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  5. 5 Dreams, Op. 6 09:26
    Track
    5
    Title
    Dreams, Op. 6
    Duration
    09:26
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  6. 6 I. Allegro ben articolato 11:16
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Allegro ben articolato
    Duration
    11:16
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  7. 7 II. Theme - 01:50
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Theme -
    Duration
    01:50
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  8. 8 II. Variation 1 - 02:21
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Variation 1 -
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  9. 9 II. Variation 2 - 02:48
    Track
    9
    Title
    II. Variation 2 -
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  10. 10 II. Variation 3 - 01:59
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. Variation 3 -
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  11. 11 II. Variation 4 - 04:28
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Variation 4 -
    Duration
    04:28
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  12. 12 II. Variation 5 - 02:41
    Track
    12
    Title
    II. Variation 5 -
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  13. 13 II. Variation 6 and Theme 06:21
    Track
    13
    Title
    II. Variation 6 and Theme
    Duration
    06:21
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Ensemble
    Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop