In an era of countless new issues of
Beethoven symphonies, numerous new collections of
Bach, and daily infusions of mass-
Mozart, it is gratifying to see a new addition to the recorded legacy of Sergey Prokofiev -- particularly to his symphonic output, which has never received the same attention as the works of his contemporaries, namely
Shostakovich. Indeed, in reality, this is partly due to the fact that Prokofiev was really a composer for the stage; his third and fourth symphonies were crafted largely in part from his opera "The Fiery Angel" and the ballet "The Prodigal Son," respectively.
The Prokofiev symphonies that one is likely to encounter in the concert hall today include the famous "Classical First," the "Fifth," and the "Seventh." To most of us, the rest are relative unknowns. Perhaps this is why there exist only a handful of complete editions on disc, including compilations conducted by
Seiji Ozawa,
Neeme Järvi,
Walter Weller, and
Mstislav Rostropovich. And now, at long last, we can add the globetrotting Valery Gergiev's account to the mix. His entire career is based on an instinctual command of the Russian repertoire, especially his long history with the works of Prokofiev -- his first appearances as a conductor at the Kirov Opera were with Prokofiev's opera "War and Peace" (and yes, it's as long as the book). Thus, he is a natural choice as an interpreter for these works. Combined with the London Symphony Orchestra, this is a release that Prokofiev fans have awaited with great anticipation.
The LSO and Gergiev are a great match for each other here -- good thing, since he was named the orchestra's principal conductor in May 2005. Although his loud grunts from the podium become tiresome by the time you get to the third disc, there is an indescribable energy boiling in these performances. While you might expect sounds in the typical Prokofiev character -- the bombast, the fire, not to mention the dark brooding and threatening qualities, there are some surprises. The "First Symphony" is a great case-in-point; while you might expect this to be a heavy-handed account, Gergiev pulls an amazingly crisp lightness from the LSO violins (who perform this very difficult work with amazing virtuosity). Where it's needed, though, Gergiev can pack the punch -- one only need listen to a few bars of the "Second Symphony" or the "Fifth Symphony" to hear the depth of sound he can create. Also exemplary is the icy atmosphere he creates for the C sharp minor "Seventh Symphony." The set comes with both versions of the "Fourth Symphony"; a must for die-hard Prokofiev fans.
Perhaps the most astonishing thing (aside from the back cover of the CD box, which features a clean-shaven Gergiev) is that all the recordings featured here were recorded live. If you need a definitive set of the Prokofiev symphonies, look no further.
