Rozhdestvensky conducts Prokofiev - Symphony No. 7: First Movement [Part 1/4]

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Symphony No. 7 in C sharp minor, Op. 131

I. Moderato

Gennady Rozhdestvensky (b. 1931), conductor
Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra

Symphony No. 7 was Prokofiev's final symphony, completed in 1952. Rozhdestvensky uses the original soft ending in the final movement in this version. Prokofiev always intended the symphony to close this way.

Recorded in 1969, re-released in 1979. Quintessence/Melodiya.

ClassicalRecords is a Youtube channel where I upload some excellent performances from the LPs in my collection. I'm uploading these LPs because they are either not available on CD, out of print on CD, or just difficult to find.

Category:

Music

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• prokofiev
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• rozhdestvensky
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[KBMKBMKBMKBM]

It is incredible to listen to how his music style developed over his life. compare this to his first violin concerto. Prokofiev is one one my three favorit composers hes incredible

[bcarr1122]

@Flutist11 I suspect it has less to do with nostalgia than necessity. This symphony was composed in 1952, during an especially brutal period of cultural and artistic repression. Several years earlier the Soviet authorities had begun a campaign to purge the U.S.S.R. of all alleged Western "influence," and as such almost no artist escaped the regime's wrath.

Then there's Prokofiev's health: in 1945 he suffered a near-fatal concussion, an accident from which he never fully recovered.

[iasamiam]

Does this opening theme remind anyone else of the '90s pop-tune "what if god was one of us?"

[JeffClaireB]

Try to catch the Third Symphony with the same artists, also in my opinion the definitive version

[JeffClaireB]

Prokofiev found his lyrical and melodic mojo again with this late work, after a half decade of mediocre and unmemorable works. What a delight this piece is, alternately playful, wistful and even slightly menacing at times, accessible but never shallow or bombastic. This is the recording I first heard 25 years ago (on Melodiya vinyl) and in my opinion it has still not been surpassed.

[Flutist11]

This is definitely a more nostalgic Prokofiev, hardly "progressive." I guess when he got older, he appreciated the Romantic style more.

[sergixtepec1]

Para mi tambien, Prokofief es uno de mis favoritos musicos rusos contemporaneos, al igual que Shostakovich y Katchaturian

[turboturbante]

My favorite Prokofiev music is the most daring, such as the Symphony No.2, but his late works are delightful. I love this symphony from the first to the last measure. The Sinfonia Concertante and the Sonata No.9 are wonderful too!

[kristoferfer]

amen!

[sasha42196]

Who are the other two?