L. Maazel Conducts Prokofiev Symphony No. 5 (2/6)

[randomprimate]

the bass drum is so important here. So glad the percussionist knew that he had to play this loud. I went to a live concert, and i didn't realize how important the bass drum was until it was quiet!

[Tuck213]

NICE!

[MaitredesLames]

Dunno, i realy like this version.

This slow tempo makes a little more Majesetic i thing

[absodoodle1]

Whoever that is playing tuba is an absolutely motherf***er. Awesome.

[777wallaby777]

5:29 

[skate4fun21]

Does anyone happen to know who the tubist in this recording might be?

[rp1588]

The von Karajan recording on DG, which I first heard in 1978, is the standard as far as I am concerned, as well as a number of critics of that era.

[beethomozart]

premiered in 1944 , a 1st movement of high quality regarding to its liricism, and also a wonderful orchestration,

[ezekieloak]

I just always compare any rendering of this work to that of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. On the same release was Prokoviev´s 1st Symphony. I don´t know the label or the conductor - some fool friend of mine burned it for me.

Do any of you know?

[Sinfoniette]

Thats James Levine. I never liked his Prokofiev, not that I ever enjoyed anything very much by Levine. The 1st is pretty good but the 5th is not the best thing in the cd. You must listen to some other recordings if you like it; some are Karajan, Szell, Bernstein, and theres this Maazel, which was pretty despised by some critics but my favorite.

[ezekieloak]

It is just that 4:36 to the end sounds so bloody slow here.

But tempo seems to be what people argue about with this symphonie.

[Sinfoniette]

All symphonies are argued because of the tempo. :) This is definitely not an exception. You should definietly hunt for another recording of this. It might not be the best for you.

[RabidCh]

Szell isn't for Prokofiev I think, too refined, same with Karajan. Gergiev Jarvi Rozhdestvensky are also excellent recordings.

[Sinfoniette]

Abbado is a great Prokofiev conductor, but I don't think he recorded the 5th. I always liked the Bernstein also...

[clintow]

@RabidCh This isn't Szell, this is Maazel. I have a Szell recording, though, and it's all kinds of faster

[RabidCh]

@clintow

If you looked earlier we were discussing different conductors, not this recording. Sorry if there was a misunderstanding.

[clintow]

@RabidCh

Sorry -- the youtube comment setup gets me a little turned around :/

[ArtyKing12345]

yep, cuz all critics suck in my opinion :9

[orovalleydude]

@Sinfoniette I agree with what you said about Levine and the CSO. He could not figure out how to have all the details heard. What about Ormandy/PO?

[ArturoAlejandroS]

I don't know why,but alwyas that I hear this symphony,I remember in some passages the movie Indiana Jones,maybe the photos of Prokofiev,who looks similar to Indy.

Nice post and great version.

[mahlerite]

edit: tuba, not tubas

i really love this instrument in Prokofiev's 5th. it sticks out, and makes the music sound very mighty.

[Sinfoniette]

Yes, and quite forboding. Prokofiev could really convey the hard times by the terrible Stalin.

[trugreenandtroublu]

You should post theses together as a playlist so that its easier for young composition students to listen all the way through!! Thanks for the music!

[mahlerite]

the crescendo between 4:38-6:15 is incredibly powerful . . . the gong, tubas, and timpani are forces to be reckoned with here.