CLVI. PROKOFIEV, Sergei (1891-1953)
This is the first version. Prokofiev completely rewrote the symphony in 1947, giving it a new opus number -- 112. The second version -- written after the Zhdanov crackdown (composers were expected to write more realistic "Soviet-style" music) -- is quite different than this version, more akin to the well-received Fifth Symphony (Post XLVIII) ...
Both versions "borrow" music from his ballet, The Prodigal Son. As he was composing the ballet for Diaghilev, he thought the music would also be good as a purely instrumental symphony -- so he wrote this first version, borrowing heavily from the ballet music -- some of which Diaghilev had rejected ...
The ballet was successful, but Diaghilev died the following year and it was not produced again until many years later.
Meanwhile, Prokofiev had been discussing a commission with Serge Koussevitsky for the Boston Symphony's 50th annivesary. Disagreements over the financial considerations made a mess of the whole situation, and Prokofiev did not attend the premiere.
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Prokofiev retained a fondness for this first version, saying:
"I love it, for its absence of noisy effects and for its great abundance of material."
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First Movement
A calm introduction in the woodwinds:
followed by a typically vigorous main theme:
Development; recap; and a big C Major chord to end the movement.
Second Movement
Calm, C Major:
The movement glides through a number of differentiated sections, closing finally with an echo of the begining tranquillity:
Third Movement
A scherzo & trio -- a delicate dance to be sure, but look at the simplicity of the orchestration:
Fourth Movement
A rip-roaring unison starts the movement off:
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