Tuesday, October 19, 2021

XLVIII. PROKOFIEV, Sergei: Symphony #5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 100

XLVIII. PROKOFIEV, Sergei (1891-1953)

Symphony #5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 100 (1944)
1. Andante
2. Allegro marcato
3. Adagio
4. Allegro giocoso
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Lorin Maazel, cond.
(55:37)

This symphony is filled with delightful thematic material, none more so than this opening theme, from the second movement (19:06):


2 comments:

  1. How do you think Prokofiev managed to navigate the Soviet cultural politics more successfully than others at the time?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great question, Mr. Jordan ... actually he didn't; he was subject to the same harassment as others in the Zhdanov purge of '46 -- for example, he was forced to make huge cuts in "War and Peace" and it was around this time that he completely re-made the Fourth Symphony, making it grander, and more "Soviet-like."

    But it's true that he avoided a lot of the pain that Shostakovich endured -- partly because he spent a lot of time travelling and performing abroad.

    ReplyDelete

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