Prokofiev's symphonic career had an up-and-down reception, with his First and Fifth symphonies being his most performed and recorded works, while others faced neglect.
Composer Biography
Sergei Prokofiev, the composer, worked on his symphonies from 1916 until 1952, the year before his death, providing a comprehensive look at his creativity.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Prokofiev, a mighty composer of ballets and operas, enjoyed relative freedom in the symphonic medium, using it to create dancing rhythms and singing melodies.
Composition History
Prokofiev experimented with deriving symphonies from already-composed works, leading to his Third and Fourth Symphonies.
Recording & Production
Dmitri Kitajenko's recording of Prokofiev's symphonies with the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln is considered a benchmark recording by various critics.
Performer Biography
Dmitri Kitajenko, the conductor on this album, is highly esteemed in both Eastern and Western Europe and has received awards like the Echo Klassik Prize for his recordings.
Historical Context
Prokofiev's symphonies, despite being abstract, were criticized by Stalin's dictatorship, which proved his initial optimism about avoiding censorship wrong.
You might also enjoy...
Prokofiev, S.: Symphonies
Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 4
Prokoviev: Symphony No. 4 in C Major, Op. 112
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131
Prokofiev: Symphony No.5
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5, Op. 100
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 "Classical" (Live)
Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos.1 "Classical" & 5
Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 7
Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3
Prokofiev: Classical Symphony (No. 1) in D major, op. 25; Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, op. 100
