Symphony No. 3 (Prokofiev)
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Sergei Prokofiev wrote his Symphony No. 3 in C minor (Op. 44) in 1928.
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[edit] Background
The music derives from that for Prokofiev's opera The Fiery Angel. This piece had been accepted for performance in the 1927-28 season at the Berlin State Opera by Bruno Walter, but this production never materialised (the work was never in fact staged in Prokofiev's lifetime). Prokofiev, who had been working on the opera for years, was reluctant to let the music languish unperformed, and after hearing a concert performance of its second act given by Serge Koussevitzky in June 1928, he adapted parts of the opera to make his third symphony (shortly afterwards, he drew on his ballet The Prodigal Son for his Symphony No. 4 in similar fashion).
The piece occupies a middle ground among Prokofiev's seven symphonies in terms of popularity, not as well-known as the Symphony No. 1 (Classical), but not so neglected as the Symphony No. 2 or the first version of the Symphony No. 4.
[edit] Movements
The symphony is in four movements, lasting around 30-35 minutes.
[edit] Instrumentation
- Piccolo
- 2 Flutes
- 2 Oboes
- Cor Anglais
- 2 Clarinets
- Bass Clarinet
- 2 Bassoons
- Contrabassoon
- 3 Trumpets
- 4 French Horns
- 3 Trombones
- Tuba
- Timpani
- Percussion (Bass Drum, Tambourine, Cymbals, Castanets, Large Bell, Snare Drum, Tam-tam)
- 2 Harps
- Strings (1st and 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos and Double Basses)
[edit] Analysis
Though the music of the symphony is based on that of the opera, the material is developed symphonically, and hence the symphony is an abstract piece, not telling any particular story.
The music is highly chromatic and dissonant in the outer movements, with an emotional intensity which reflects the neuroticism and hysterics of the opera and its subject matter of demonic possession. The 2nd movement (Andante) provides relief after the 1st movement, while the innovative scherzo (Allegro agitato) can be described as hysterical in nature, with the strings (violins, violas, cellos) divided into 13 parts, playing spine-chilling fragmentory figurations and glissandi.
[edit] Premiere
Paris, 17th May 1929, Orchestre Symphonique de Paris, conducted by Pierre Monteux.
[edit] Recordings
| Orchestra | Conductor | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish National Orchestra | Neeme Järvi | Chandos Records | 1986 | CD |
| London Symphony Orchestra | Valery Gergiev | Philips | 2004 | CD |
| London Symphony Orchestra | Walter Weller | Decca | ? | CD |
| Orchestre National de France | Mstislav Rostropovich | Erato | ? | CD |
| National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine | Theodore Kuchar | Naxos | CD | |
| Philadelphia Orchestra | Riccardo Muti | Philips | 1991 | CD |
| London Symphony Orchestra | Claudio Abbado | Decca | 1969 | CD/LP |
| National Orchestra of the O.R.T.F. | Jean Martinon | VoxBox | CD | |
| Czech Philharmonic Orchestra | Zdenek Kosler | Supraphon | CD | |
| Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | Seiji Ozawa | Deutsche Grammophon | CD | |
| USSR Ministry of Culture State Symphony Orchestra | Gennadi Rozhdestvensky | CD/LP |
