- Audio CD (19 Dec 2008)
- SPARS Code: DDD
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Telarc Classical
- ASIN: B000ZU98E4
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 416,458 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. City |
| 2. From Sorcery To Science |
| 3. Cummington Story |
| 4. North Star |
Product Description
Album Description
"I have always wanted to record Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5," says Paavo Järvi. "I consider it one of the best symphonies of the 20th century. Symphony No. 5 is brilliant in its newness, language and construction. On the other hand, Lieutenant Kijé Suite shows the much lighter side of Prokofiev as he brings the character to life in a unique and almost comical way."
Both pieces read like an homage to Prokofiev's Mother Russia. While it has no programme, Symphony No. 5 coincidentally became an expression of Russian pride, because at the time of its 1945 premiere in Moscow, Russia's army was victorious over Germany. One of Prokofiev's most accessible pieces, Symphony No. 5 expresses optimism and a depth of direct emotion. It had been 14 years since the Symphony No 4 but his return to Russia in 1934 and the subsequent war years heralded a new creative period.
Lieutenant Kijé Suite, a cinema piece, was written for Alexander Feinzimmer's 1934 film based on a satirical story by Yuri Tinyanov and mirrors the mischievousness of the script about a make-believe military character.
2008 is another very busy year for Maestro Jarvi. In addition to his conducting duties in Cincinnati, he will once again lead the Philharmonia Orchestra, The Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in January and February alone. In April he takes the Cincinnati Symphony on a 12 date tour of Europe including dates in Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, France and Spain.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm not sure why this recording hasn't recieved more attention. It seems to have drifted under the radar, so as to speak. This is a shame because the performances really are very, very good, and the recording - for 5.1 audio - top quality.
Worthy of particular praise is the performance of the Lieutenant Kijé Suite. Of course this is incredibly well known and it would be an unwise conductor who sought to bring some radical, as yet unheard reading to the score. So here we are offered what I suppose should be considered a pretty conventional interpretation. Nonetheless it is thoughtful, playing melancholy off against humour until the final fate of the character is revealed in the folly of state aggrandisement.
Overall, a worthy recording that warrants repeat listening.
Worthy of particular praise is the performance of the Lieutenant Kijé Suite. Of course this is incredibly well known and it would be an unwise conductor who sought to bring some radical, as yet unheard reading to the score. So here we are offered what I suppose should be considered a pretty conventional interpretation. Nonetheless it is thoughtful, playing melancholy off against humour until the final fate of the character is revealed in the folly of state aggrandisement.
Overall, a worthy recording that warrants repeat listening.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
A Gentler Prokoviev
11 Feb 2008
Format:Audio CD
This is the first such "review" I have ever done. I own all of the CSO/Telarc recordings, having once lived in Cincinnati, and thought this was one way to keep supporting their orchestra, so I may be biased. I lost my previous recording of the Prokoviev and was pleased when this one showed up on the radar screen. The recording is done at a slightly softer recording level, but is excellent, as one would expect of a Telarc product. The orchestra plays well and, as I often find, I discover things I do not hear in other recordings or in the concert hall. These performances seem to be crafted with care, perhaps too much so. I was looking for more bite, particularly in the second movement of the 5th, much more similar to that of the 4th movement. The liner notes suggest that Jarvi had a reason for this, but I would have liked more of a snarl, more digging into the strings and more presence to the percussion. I thought the Kije was a bit staid and could have used a bit more musical humor. All that said, I enjoy both pieces and would likely buy them again. I just wish they were 5 rather than 4-star interpretations.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Great addition to the rich CSO/Paavo Jarvi body of work
1 Mar 2008
Format:Audio CD
Since Paavo Jarvi became the Cincinnati Symphony's Music Director in September, 2001, the Telearc label has issued 2 albums a year of the CSO directed by Maestro Jarvi, pretty much like clockwork. This is the 13th in the series, and in fact the second all-Prokofiev CD under Paavo Jarvi, as in 2003 they released the excellent "Romeo & Juliet" album.
This CD (64 min.) collects 2 works of Prokofiev, starting of with his Symphony No.5. This is not the most immediately accessible Prokofiev symphony, but Maestro Jarvi brings it with panache. I especially like the third and fourth (final) movements. As is usually the case with a Telearc recording, the audio quality of this CD is nothing short of spectacular.
The other Prokofiev piece on here is the Lieutenant Kije Suite, and it is the true gem on this CD, as I am completely enchanted by this performance, with the CSO bringing it with finesse, warmth and joy. The orchestra sounds fantastic throughout, starting with the opening military-oriented theme ("Birth of Kije"), followed by the well-known "Romance" theme, and gradually expanding ("Wedding of Kije") to its somber conclusion ("Burial of Kije").
Paavo Jarvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra are touring Europe again next month (April). Yes, the shadow of the Cleveland Orchestra is long, but under the guidance of Maestro Jaarvi, the CSO continues to shine, and this new album is ample proof of that. Highly recommended!
This CD (64 min.) collects 2 works of Prokofiev, starting of with his Symphony No.5. This is not the most immediately accessible Prokofiev symphony, but Maestro Jarvi brings it with panache. I especially like the third and fourth (final) movements. As is usually the case with a Telearc recording, the audio quality of this CD is nothing short of spectacular.
The other Prokofiev piece on here is the Lieutenant Kije Suite, and it is the true gem on this CD, as I am completely enchanted by this performance, with the CSO bringing it with finesse, warmth and joy. The orchestra sounds fantastic throughout, starting with the opening military-oriented theme ("Birth of Kije"), followed by the well-known "Romance" theme, and gradually expanding ("Wedding of Kije") to its somber conclusion ("Burial of Kije").
Paavo Jarvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra are touring Europe again next month (April). Yes, the shadow of the Cleveland Orchestra is long, but under the guidance of Maestro Jaarvi, the CSO continues to shine, and this new album is ample proof of that. Highly recommended!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Paavo Jarvi revisits Prokofiev with great result
1 Mar 2008
Format:Audio CD
Since Paavo Jarvi became the Cincinnati Symphony's Music Director in September, 2001, the Telearc label has issued 2 albums a year of the CSO directed by Maestro Jarvi, pretty much like clockwork. This is the 13th in the series, and in fact the second all-Prokofiev CD under Paavo Jarvi, as in 2003 they released the excellent "Romeo & Juliet" album.
This CD (64 min.) collects 2 works of Prokofiev, starting of with his Symphony No.5. This is not the most immediately accessible Prokofiev symphony, but Maestro Jarvi brings it with panache. I especially like the third and fourth (final) movements. As is usually the case with a Telearc recording, the audio quality of this CD is nothing short of spectacular.
The other Prokofiev piece on here is the Lieutenant Kije Suite, and it is the true gem on this CD, as I am completely enchanted by this performance, with the CSO bringing it with finesse, warmth and joy. The orchestra sounds fantastic throughout, starting with the opening military-oriented theme ("Birth of Kije"), followed by the well-known "Romance" theme, and gradually expanding ("Wedding of Kije") to its somber conclusion ("Burial of Kije").
Paavo Jarvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra are touring Europe again next month (April). Yes, the shadow of the Cleveland Orchestra is long, but under the guidance of Maestro Jaarvi, the CSO continues to shine, and this new album is ample proof of that. Highly recommended!
This CD (64 min.) collects 2 works of Prokofiev, starting of with his Symphony No.5. This is not the most immediately accessible Prokofiev symphony, but Maestro Jarvi brings it with panache. I especially like the third and fourth (final) movements. As is usually the case with a Telearc recording, the audio quality of this CD is nothing short of spectacular.
The other Prokofiev piece on here is the Lieutenant Kije Suite, and it is the true gem on this CD, as I am completely enchanted by this performance, with the CSO bringing it with finesse, warmth and joy. The orchestra sounds fantastic throughout, starting with the opening military-oriented theme ("Birth of Kije"), followed by the well-known "Romance" theme, and gradually expanding ("Wedding of Kije") to its somber conclusion ("Burial of Kije").
Paavo Jarvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra are touring Europe again next month (April). Yes, the shadow of the Cleveland Orchestra is long, but under the guidance of Maestro Jaarvi, the CSO continues to shine, and this new album is ample proof of that. Highly recommended!
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