Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B flat, Op. 100; Three Waltzes, Op. 110 [Import]

Sergey Prokofiev (Composer), Neeme Järvi (Conductor), Scottish National Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Scottish National Orchestra
• Conductor: Neeme Järvi
• Composer: Sergey Prokofiev
• Audio CD (October 28, 1992)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B000000AE6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,405 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #56 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910) > General

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Wow! This is one intense performance of Prokofiev's second most popular symphony (the most popular one is the "Classical" Symphony). The climaxes of the first and third movements ring out with earsplitting violence, which is exactly what the composer intended. Neeme Järvi also adopts rather more urgent tempos than usual in those same movements, which is very welcome--the heaviness is built into the music and doesn't need to be exaggerated. The coupling comprises three of the six delicious waltzes that the composer assembled into an attractive dance suite from various sources. Staggeringly good sound, too. --David Hurwitz

Amazon.com

This is Sergei Prokofieff's greatest symphony. Thirty recordings on CD exist, according to Schwann's catalog. (His most recorded is the Symphony 1, the Classical Symphony.) Somehow by the Fifth Symphony the composer had learned to balance his ideas more effectively and what you get is a symphony that retains elements of dance theater as well as motif development. Also on this disc are tasty excerpts from Prokofieff's "Waltz Suite," specifically movements from the ballets War and Peace, Lermontov, and Cinderella. Somehow, Neeme Jarvi and the SNO capture the heart of Prokofieff. Highly recommended. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Järvi and Prokofiev, July 12, 2008

By 

B. R. Merrick - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B flat, Op. 100; Three Waltzes, Op. 110 (Audio CD)

Prokofiev's orchestrations, like Beethoven's, are naturally heavy. As a composer known for his precocity, the weight of the orchestration is obviously meant as an in-your-face dare. It is therefore important to exploit this fact as much as possible.

Aided by wonderful technical recording aspects, Järvi's interpretation of Prokofiev's symphonies and other symphonic works is unmatched. These recordings with the Scottish National Orchestra contain great acoustic reverberation, ecstatic woodwinds, fiery strings, and blaring brass. If you're a fan of French Horns especially, then you'll love these recordings.

Järvi never loses a sense of playfulness. The orchestra stays together quite nicely, and you may actually have to turn the volume down at times! There are certainly other terrific recordings of Prokofiev's orchestral works. I'm mainly thinking of an old recording of the Fifth I had with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. But why bother? Your search stops here.

5.0 out of 5 stars Jarvi is the master of the Prokofiev symphonies, January 22, 2012

By 

J. Bynum (the southwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B flat, Op. 100; Three Waltzes, Op. 110 (Audio CD)

Sergey Sergeyevich Prokofiev

Symphony No. 5 in B flat, op. 100
Waltz Suite op. 110

Neeme Jarvi
Scottish National Orchestra
Edwin Paling

(Chandos - DDD - 1986)

Jarvi and the Scottish National Orchestra made a fantastic series of CDs of various Prokofiev symphonies and every one of them is a near definitive recording. This version of the Symphony Number 5 is one of the three best even within that series. The Waltz Suite are from three larger pieces: Track 5 is "since we met" from War and Peace, Track 6 is "Mephisto Waltz" from Lermontov, and track 7 is "End of the fairy tale" from Cinderella. All splendidly done. This CD is highly recommended.
This CD deserves Five Stars.