Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Theodore Kuchar, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine :: Prokofiev: Prodigal Son/Symphony 4

These Works Share Material; It's Nice to Hear Them Together

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 06/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Prokofiev's Symphony No. 4, premièred in November 1930 by the Boston Symphony under Serge Koussevitzky but revised in 1947, is coupled with the music that spawned it, the 1929 ballet music for 'The Prodigal Son,' the last of four ballets Prokofiev wrote for Diaghilev. It is nice to hear the two pieces side by side; one can hear that Prokofiev took themes from the ballet and subjected them to symphonic development. The music is filled with Prokofiev's motoric impetus but also has quite a goodly number of his sweet/tart melodies as well. Both performances here are quite nice, with rhythmic verve, alert and nuanced shaping of the material, and quite good playing from the National Symphony of Ukraine under their regular conductor, the American Theodore Kuchar, who has been associated with the orchestra for many years.These performances are also included in the box set of all of Prokofiev's symphonies and concertos brought out recently by Naxos, but if you don't need that large set and do want to have the Fourth and the Prodigal Son, this is the one for you. It's very nicely done.Scott Morrison"