Scriabin: Symphonies 2, 3 and 4 (Poem of Ecstasy)

Alexander Scriabin (Composer), Neeme Järvi (Conductor), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Danmarks Radiosymfoniorkester (Orchestra), Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Danmarks Radiosymfoniorkester, Royal Scottish National Orchestra
• Conductor: Neeme Järvi
• Composer: Alexander Scriabin
• Audio CD (April 13, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B00000IM6S
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #218,653 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 2nd Symphony is the star here, June 12, 2007

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Classic Music Lover (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scriabin: Symphonies 2, 3 and 4 (Poem of Ecstasy) (Audio CD)

If you like your Scriabin unfussy, Jarvi's your man. Let's start right out by saying that the Symphony #3 (Divine Poem) and #4 (Poem of Ecstasy) are well-done. But you can get many other commendable readings of these works. The real stunner here is the 2nd Symphony. Scriabin himself professed a dislike of this work because he claimed too much of his inner thinking was revealed in the score (I guess he preferred to be inscrutible). In most performances, the piece does come off as rather perfunctory and even uninspired. Not here. The conductor builds the tension and the momentum throughout each section of the score, culminating in a truly shattering Scherzo that then segues into the last movement. In the hands of many conductors, the final movement comes across as empty rhetoric, but Jarvi turns it into an absolute triumph. The Scottish National Orchestra delivers an extraordinary reading that's extremely polished while at the same time being viscerally exciting. Jarvi's is most definitely the version to have of this symphony -- you can pass over Muti, Semkow, Svetlanov, Inbal, Ashkenazy and any number of others who are just also-rans in this repertoire.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A so-so 2nd is made to shine, February 24, 2001

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Czinczar (Southeast Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scriabin: Symphonies 2, 3 and 4 (Poem of Ecstasy) (Audio CD)

I haven't heard this entire album. But recently, I heard its 2nd Symphony played on the radio, so my comments apply to the 2nd Symphony only. Bear that in mind. I'm a fan of Scriabin's piano music. I've heard his 2nd Symphony a couple of times over the past two decades, but it never stuck in my mind. I thought his first two symphonies didn't have much to offer. But this performance of the 2nd puts me on notice that Scriabin had progressed significantly since his 1st. It took Järvi's powerful rendition of this symphony to make me realize that it's a truly worthwhile work. I can still tell that the symphony is far from a great work. It's just O. K. But Järvi and his old band the SNO are so very adept at bringing out the best of what the 2nd has to offer that I couldn't help being impressed by Scriabin. I now see how much he had progressed since his routine and uninspired 1st Symphony. Scriabin had matured as a symphonist. But it took Järvi to make me realize it. This interpretation is in a solidly romantic vein, which feels appropriate. But occasionally, we sense Scriabin's growth toward his unique, advanced harmonics which came later. This is a work that deserves to be heard more often, but only a performance like Järvi and the SNO give here can make the work truly effective and appreciated. It reminds me again how fortunate we are in southeast Michigan to have Järvi in Detroit.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Jarvi strikes again, however Muti is to be preferred..., September 15, 2010

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dv_forever (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scriabin: Symphonies 2, 3 and 4 (Poem of Ecstasy) (Audio CD)

For the people who can't get enough of decadent, hedonistic, fin-de-siecle sound orgies, Scriabin's symphonies will be right up your alley. As usual in the area of orchestral music, there are numerous versions to choose from for out of the way repertoire such as this. The biggest competitors to Neeme Jarvi are Riccardo Muti on EMI and Ashkenazy on Decca. Ashkenazy seems to occupy third place in the contest. The reason I choose Muti over Jarvi are several. First of all, Muti is simply a more talented conductor, more individualistic and able to take risks. Muti has a penchant for the Scriabin symphonies while Jarvi just seems like he's recorded pretty much everything ever composed and here he got around to Scriabin. Also, Muti has the lush, grand Philadelphia Orchestra at his disposal for the entire Scriabin cycle while Jarvi has the Chicago Symphony only for The Poem of Ecstacy. The other works are divided between the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Not that they are bad by any means but the Philadelphia Orchestra is just superior in my view, especially for this decadent music. Beyond that, EMI gives Muti some of the best digital sound he ever received. Jarvi gets great sound too from Chandos but the orchestras are simply not as voluptuous sounding as the Philly players.

If you find this set for cheap, no reason not to pick it up but I just wanted listeners to know that Muti gives more expansive, luxurious performances and the climaxes on that set are overwhelming. The biggest difference is the 2nd symphony, Jarvi moves things along fairly fast while Muti gives this heady music air to breath and time to stretch it's legs. The Poem of Ecstasy scores a success for both conductors and yet the big, final climax in the Muti set is just that more intense. Check out my review of the Muti Scriabin cycle for further details.