Gergiev records Prokofiev. Music history in the making?

[rogch]

Well, let's hope so. As a dedicated Prokofiev fan i have always wanted a definite cycle of his symphonies. Järvi's cycle on Chandos is generally considered the best, but hasn't quite got the legendary status as other good cycles. Perhaps because Prokofiev's symphonies with 2 or 3 exceptions are not among his most popular works. But does it also has to do with the recordings? That they are good, but not spectacular? And the cycle is probably rated as the best because it is more consistent than its rivals. So i have long hoped that an experienced Prokofiev conductor would record the symphonies with a leading orchestra to make a new cycle. (The Ozawa set with the Berlin PO should have done the trick, but the results are mixed, if not as bad as many critics think.). But now perhaps my dream has come true. Valery Gergiev has recorded the 7 symphonies with the London Symphony Orchestra. The recordings are selected as "disc of the month" on Gramophone's web site. So let's hope these recordings accomplish two things:
1. Give us the definite Prokofiev cycle we have waited for
2. Establish Prokofiev as the great symphonic composer he was. For some reason there are a zillion recordings of the first and fifth symphony while the other 5 symphonies have been far less recorded. Shostakovich reportedly said that Prokofiev was not a great orchestrator. It seems like many people agree with him even though it is one of the silliest things ever said about classical music.

[Ralph]

No performance is definitive: there will always be others so regarded.

I look forward to acquiring this cycle.

[pizza]

I got the Gergiev cycle just yesterday and heard the 6th and 7th so far. They are both excellent performances, the LSO sounding very Russian, and its virtuosity is simply amazing -- my only quibble being that the sound seems a bit dry, at least compared to other Philips orchestral recordings I've heard. My other complete set is Walter Weller's on Decca. Weller's 6th is one of the best performances I've ever heard, and the sound of the recording is marvellous. As for Symphony 7, Malko's old '55 recording (early stereo) with the Philharmonia is still the one to beat.

The 4 CD set is well-produced and contains both the original and revised editions of the 4th Symphony and includes decent notes. The set also contains a rarity -- a photo of a smiling Gergiev on the back!

I also bought Gergiev's Shostakovich 4/Kirov Orchestra which is superb. He's getting to be one of my favorite conductors.

[Reed]

The Prokofiev symphonies are, in my opinion, very underrated.

Numbers five through seven are especially wonderful. I would second the recommendation of Walter Weller in the 6th (again, in my opinion, his greatest symphony) and his cycle as a whole is quite good. The Malko 7th is another favorite recording. I always felt there was more in the work than I was getting until I heard this early stereo recording, recently reissued in the Great Conductors of the 20th Century series on EMI in great sound the belies its status as a 61 year old recording.

When I want to hear the 5th, I usually turn to Szell/Cleveland.

There are surprisingly many good recordings of the 3rd, but my mind has turned to cheese from working too much and sleeping too little, so specific recommendations will have to wait for another time.

[Ralph]

I got the Gergiev cycle just yesterday and heard the 6th and 7th so far. They are both excellent performances, the LSO sounding very Russian, and its virtuosity is simply amazing -- my only quibble being that the sound seems a bit dry, at least compared to other Philips orchestral recordings I've heard. My other complete set is Walter Weller's on Decca. Weller's 6th is one of the best performances I've ever heard, and the sound of the recording is marvellous. As for Symphony 7, Malko's old '55 recording (early stereo) with the Philharmonia is still the one to beat.

The 4 CD set is well-produced and contains both the original and revised editions of the 4th Symphony and includes decent notes. The set also contains a rarity -- a photo of a smiling Gergiev on the back!

I also bought Gergiev's Shostakovich 4/Kirov Orchestra which is superb. He's getting to be one of my favorite conductors.

*****

We're lucky that he conducts regularly in New York at the Met and at Avery Fisher Hall.

[pizza]

Just finished listening to the Gergiev/Prokofiev set and I think it's terrific. These are live performances, almost perfectly executed by the LSO and exhibiting both a raw, intense power as well as lyrical sensitivity. I never realized before how interesting are the lesser known symphonies -- 2, 3 and 4. As I've already noted, my only quibble, and a minor one at that is a slight dryness to the recorded sound, but nothing affecting the impact of the music.

Highly recommended!

[Heck148]

I'd be interested to see how Gergiev stacks up against the competitiomn, which is pretty fierce in the Prokofieff symphonies...

#6 has been served quite well on rcordings -
Mravinsky/LenPO/'67 on Praga and Ormandy/PhilOrch are my favorites...both really superb...different approaches but both work extremely well
Jarvi/RSNO is good also, excellent sound and fine playing...

#3 offers some truly formidable benchmark performances -

Rozhdest'sky/USSR SO from '69 was always my favorite - I got it on a great sounding Mobile fidelity sound lab disc...along with Sym #2 and VC#1 Igor Oistrakh..

however, Kondrashin/CSO live Sym#3 from '76 may actually top it, or at least equal it. this is an amazing live concert recording...the blazing orchestral virtuosity, along with Kondrashin's dark, sinister approach make this one really special.

again Jarvi's is not bad, and is well-recorded, but not on the level of Rozh'sky or Kondrashin....

I wish Rozh'sky's old Melodiyarecordings would all be re-issued again - they were going in and OOP faster than you could fill out the order forms...his #s 2, 4 and 6 were really outstanding...

Jarvi does well with #2 and 4, but I'd go for Rozh and his USSR Humongous and Cacaphonous SO.....

#5 is the best known, and has been recorded often - Levine/CSO on DG tops it for me, a really remarkable performance. for historical interest Reiner/CSO/'58 is wonderful, in not great, but OK sound. it makes me wish i had heard the live concert!!

[karlhenning]

Just finished listening to the Gergiev/Prokofiev set and I think it's terrific. These are live performances, almost perfectly executed by the LSO and exhibiting both a raw, intense power as well as lyrical sensitivity. I never realized before how interesting are the lesser known symphonies -- 2, 3 and 4.

The Second is a marvelous sympony, pizza!

Heck: I found Järvi disappointing in the Second (among others), but YMMV, of course.