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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 & The Year 1941
Written in 1944, Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony is one of his greatest and most complete symphonic statements. At its première he himself called it “a symphony of the grandeur of the human spirit”. The first movement couples considerable strength with unexpected yet highly characteristic twists of melody. After a violent scherzo followed by a slow movement of sustained lyricism, with a fiercely dramatic middle section, the finale blazes with barely suppressed passion. The Year 1941 is another wartime work, a symphonic suite written in response to the German invasion of the Soviet Union. 24-bit, 96 kHz Stereo and Surround recordings “This exceptional account of Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony is partnered by a revelatory performance of The Year 1941, while the recording bursts out of the speakers on blu-ray.” BBC Music Magazine, January 2013 ***** | | Naxos - NBD0031 (Blu-ray audio) Normally: $15.00 Special: $12.00 |
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| |  | Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 & The Year 1941
Written in 1944, Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony is one of his greatest and most complete symphonic statements. At its première he himself called it “a symphony of the grandeur of the human spirit”. The first movement couples considerable strength with unexpected yet highly characteristic twists of melody. After a violent scherzo followed by a slow movement of sustained lyricism, with a fiercely dramatic middle section, the finale blazes with barely suppressed passion. The Year 1941 is another wartime work, a symphonic suite written in response to the German invasion of the Soviet Union. This is the first volume of a complete cycle of the Prokofiev Symphonies with the OSESP and Marin Alsop, the orchestra’s newly appointed Principal Conductor. “the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra and its conductor Marin Alsop held my attention as never before...The Fifth Symphony comes up trumps in a dramatic yet highly polished performance...I was particularly impressed by how Alsop brings out the first movement's characteristic power with a purposefulness that prevents it from seeming merely ponderous...Altogether, this first volume of Prokofiev is an outstanding achievement.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2012 ***** “I don't know if Alsop thinks this is great music, but she conducts as if it is...[Her] first movement has plenty of sweep...Of drama there is no shortage either...there's a sincerity here that keeps the music from seeming merely overbearing...this is one of the most gorgeously engineered orchestra CDs to come my way in some time...Even if you have several Prokofiev Fifths, you need to make room for this one.” International Record Review, June 2012 “The performance of the symphony is one of considerable power, more expansive than some but conceived with a judicious balance between emotional weight and structural cohesion...the São Paulo has a great deal to offer in terms of energy, atmosphere, humanity and also technical accomplishment in those passages (notably in the finale) where Prokofiev taxed an orchestra’s togetherness.” The Telegraph, 13th July 2012 “Alsop, the Sao Paolo Symphony’s new principal conductor, directs a perfectly serviceable account, advertising a disciplined but slightly colourless ensemble.” Financial Times, 27th July 2012 *** “this is the best recording of [The Year 1941] that I have heard...Alsop’s performance should go some way towards bringing it to the public’s attention. She injects the first movement with sufficient drama and the second movement - my favorite of the three - is poignant and touching. The orchestra sounds world class both here and in the symphony.” MusicWeb International, August 2012  BBC Music Magazine
Orchestral Choice - July 2012 |
| | | (also available to download from $6.00) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Prokofiev: Summer Night & The Year 1941
St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir of The St. Petersburg Conservatory, Vladimir Ashkenazy One of the greatest orchestras of the last century, the St Petersburg Philharmonic, and the legendary Russian conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy perform a collection of rarely-recorded works by their compatriot, the 20th century composer Sergei Prokofiev. Included are the suites Summer Night and The Year 1941, the two Festive Poems titled ‘The Meeting of The Volga and The Don’ and ‘Thirty Years’, as well as the cantata Seven, They are Seven and the American Overture. In January 2009 Vladimir Ashkenazy took up the position of Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser to the Sydney Symphony. He is also Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Iceland and NHK Symphony Orchestras, as well as being Music Director of the European Union Youth Orchestra. The legendary St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1882, and is Russia's oldest symphonic ensemble. Sergei Prokofiev is mostly known for his seven symphonies, two violin and five piano concertos, and music for the ballets Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella. The music on this CD however, which includes the suites Summer Night and The Year 1941, the two Festive Poems and the American Overture, as well as the cantata Seven, They are Seven (sung by the Choir of The St. Petersburg Conservatory), is rarely performed or recorded. These pieces are more representative in style and substance of Prokofiev as a Russian composer living through the violent changes of the first half of the 20th century. | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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“This performance of the Fifth Symphony reeks with atmosphere; it has tremendous sweep and ardour... a must for Prokofiev collectors.” Fanfare | | | (also available to download from $6.00) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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