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Sergey Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 44 / Symphony No. 4 in C major, Op. 47 (Original 1930 Version) - Neeme Järvi

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Both of the symphonies on this disc are based on material from other works. The 3rd uses material from Prokofiev's opera 'The Fiery Angel' (which is, in my opinion, one of his most outstanding works), and the 4th is constructed of unused material from his ballet 'The Prodigal Son'. If you enjoy either of these works, you will enjoy these symphonies. That being said, if you've never heard the ballet or the opera these are two incredible (and underrated) symphonies that can more than hold their own. Jarvi shows off his true talent for conducting Prokofiev, bringing unsurpassed lyricism to the slow movements, and chaotic, yet clear intensity to the terrifyingly sinister dissonances of the 3rd. The Scottish National Orchestra is an extremely capable partner. The sound is crisp and clear and very loud. If you're a fan of Prokofiev, 20th century music or great symphonies I strongly urge you to purchase this disc.

Seriously, if you have never heard Symphony #3, you must purchase this disk. Stravinsky idolized Tchaikovsky's immense lyricism. When Prokofiev is at his best, the result is a chimera of the two (to me, the piece Le Baiser de la Fee that Stravinsky finished for Tchaikovsky sounds like Prokofiev). Symphony 3 is probably the best example of Prokofiev's immense genius in fusing these disparate elements. The first movement is centered around a dark, hypnotic circular theme that bursts out like an explosion at the start of the piece, fading rapidly into a more assuring subtheme which is quickly dismissed by quivering strings and then a long descent into madness which is capped in an outrageous conclusion to the first movement, followed by one of the most hauntingly beautiful second movements in all music.

As was noted elsewhere, Prokofiev poached this music from his opera 'The Fiery Angel' when, after 10 years, he was unable to get it staged. The opera is about a woman who keeps having visions and she can't tell if they are an angel or the devil. The music lives up to this lofty billing, alternately mixing the beatific and the infernal, until it ends in a mad, farcical romp. On the very short list of works you can't live without...

Neeme Jarvi's grasp of Prokofiev's music is astounding. This CD is one of a collection on Chandos of all of Prokofiev's symphonies. First the recoding quality is Chandos which is second to none and worth every penny. Secondly both Orchestra and conducter are committed to this biting saterical sometimes brutal and sometimes gloriously beautiful work. The smashing opening bars propel you into a dark and somber world. The ending is even more shattering. In between is vintage melodic Prokofiev. Get this. Get them all if they are Chandos and Neeme Jarvi....

Prokofiev's third is definitely his most ferocious - this is music of intense, frenzied power and urgent and blood-curdling drama, but combined with music of almost otherworldly, angelic and mysterious beauty. It is based on music from his (superb) opera The Fiery Angel set into a formal framework the composer had already thought out in advance. It is a truly splendid work; not only is the thematic material magnificent (after all, the opera is a masterpiece), it is also fabulously put together into something that works almost surprisingly well as a symphonic whole.

Järvi and the Scottish National Orchestra are simply scintillating, playing with almost infernal, feverish fervor and blistering power - just listen to the march theme of the first movement; I cannot imagine it being rendered more effective than here. But they are equally wonderful in the searching, elegiac mystery of the softer parts. Now, I still think Järvi's cycle is the best Prokofiev symphony cycle in the catalogue (although he is outperformed by others in some individual works, such as Ancerl in no.1 and Karajan in no.5), and the third is one of the most obvious instances where he simply blows Gergiev's more recent account out of the water - while certainly dramatically paced, Gergiev just lacks the ferocity and urgency of this performance (it also affects Gergiev's performance of the opera, but here the quality of the singers to a large extent makes up for it).

Järvi's is also the first choice in the fourth, here given in its original version (the later version is coupled with no.1). It is a somewhat problematic though ultimately fine work, although clearly the weakest symphony Prokofiev wrote - the later version is rather obviously preferable, with much more of a (subdued) epic sweep to it, but it is still surprisingly nondescript and both structurally and sometimes thematically weak. It is based on the music for his ballet The Prodigal Son, but it often sounds as if the themes are just pasted together with little sense of coherence or structure - it sounds like it was quickly piled together to meet a deadline, which it in fact was. That it doesn't come across as entirely convincing (although it does indeed have a certain subtle quality to it, and some really good themes) is not the fault of Järvi or the Scottish National Orchestra who provides spirited, overall very convincing playing, realizing the atmosphere and raw humor of the music with many subtle but convincing touches. The sound quality is very good - `powerful' might be the most apposite term - and this release deserves a firm, even urgent, recommendation.

Neeme Järvi has a penchant for the music of Prokofiev as is apparent in his generous catalogue of recorded works. He understands Prokofiev's eternal dichotomy between gorgeous melody and the attacking bitter and brassy irony that suffuses all of his works.

Symphony No. 3 is a tough piece because of the musical ideas contained within the entire work are form the vitriolic opera 'The Fiery Angel', an opera that is too seldom performed because of its demands on the vocalists as well as its dark theme. But Prokofiev managed to draw upon the many moments of the opera and from those created this truly original symphony. It is exciting, challenging, and ultimately gripping work.

The Symphony No. 4 was likewise extracted from another source, this time Prokofiev's ballet for Diaghilev 'The Prodigal Son'. The score is rich in melodic outpouring and contains some of Prokofiev's most soaring lines. Not uncommon for the times, Prokofiev eventually re-wrote the symphony in 1947, but on this recording Järvi conducts his Scottish National Orchestra in the original 1930 version. The recorded sound is superb and Järvi's manner of approach to both these great scores is uncannily on target. An excellent introduction to lesser-known Prokofiev symphonies. Grady Harp, March 06

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.

All of the positive writing above is right as far I am concerned. The 3rd is crazy, insanely beautiful. The man froze me in my chair in the 1st movement!(and it went that way to the end) Many composers seemed to have been great artist, this guy was a kind of musical magicman! The 4th revised is much more fluid and dramatic than the first 4th. It's got more of the most beautiful music you'll ever hear.You can get it with the 1st. symphony. Jarvi and the Scottish Royal are all one cold dream. Words to discribe #3- violent,brutal,ellegant,magical,dreamy,jazz,sinful etc etc! Caution: if you do not enjoy some atonalness or music with "many" unusual shifts to many different themes, this may not be your bag!

I ordered this cd shortly before the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. I have since listened to the 3rd Symphony over and over. It seems to reflect so much of my own emotional turmoil following these horrific events. The crashing alarm of the openning, the soft quizzical lament of the ensueing theme, the brutal brassy vengeful march, the anxiety of the restlessly scurrying strings, the mystical other-worldly searching that also seems present in the first movement: all this makes this symphony one of the few pieces of music that I turn to in the face of these shattering assaults on peace and normalcy.