The second movement is utterly delightful, as the conductor evokes the spirit of ballet with terrific woodwinds, brass, and percussion. After four introductory bars, a melody appears high in the violins, full of Mozartian trills and lilting figures. Accompanied by his second wife, Mira, the retreat set up by the Union of Soviet Composers proved an idyllic setting for composition. However, in the swifter sections, such as the Sevenths frenzied second-movement Piu animato and the same symphonys lively fourth movement, Ashkenazy lets it all hang out, and listeners should brace themselves for quite a ride. We counted up the votes, and, where there were tie-breakers, gave the deciding vote to our trusted critics. Calvin Dotsey. This sensation of meaningful sharing is much the same as when critics talk to like-minded colleagues: the idea is to focus an authentic reaction. Rob Cowan, Julian Anderson composer; Marin Alsop conductor; Jean-Efflam Bavouzet pianist; Yefim Bronfman pianist; Iain Burnside pianist; Semyon Bychkov conductor; Sarah Chang violinist; Harry Christophers conductor; Natalie Clein cellist; Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano; Imogen Cooper pianist; Joyce DiDonato mezzo-soprano; Julius Drake pianist; Thomas Dausgaard conductor; Alan Gilbert conductor; Hlne Grimaud pianist; Hilary Hahn violinist; Steven Isserlis cellist; Marc-Andr Hamelin pianist; Angela Hewitt pianist; Stephen Hough pianist; Alina Ibragimova violinist; Neeme Jrvi conductor; Kirill Karabits conductor; Andrew Litton conductor; Anne Akiko Meyers violinist; Jonathan Nott conductor; Gianandrea Noseda conductor; Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano; Vasily Petrenko conductor; Peter Phillips conductor; Philippe Quint violinist; Stephen Rice conductor; Yevgeny Sudbin pianist; Mark Wigglesworth conductor; Elizabeth Watts soprano; David Zinman conductor. An upward surging figurein the basses and cellos then leads toa soft, contrasting second themein the flute and oboe. Although Wagnerian in character and scope, chorale-like themes and harmonies flow through all four movements as Bruckner brings his skill as an organist to bear on this grandest of masterpieces. Prokofiev Symphonies 6 and 7 DECCA 443 325-2 [LW] Classical Music Prokofievs friend and collaborator, the theater director Vsevolod Meyerhold, disappeared. Thats an area where sensitive critics and musicians nearly always agree: you sense the glow of recognition at the mere idea of (to mention just a few of the miracles chosen by our artists) Schnabels or Furtwnglers Beethoven, Fischer-Dieskau singing Schuberts Winterreise or the Callas/de Sabata Tosca. Musically I also took an important decision: to do without a piano, he wrote. Being a musician is not the same as being a performer: there are many competent amateur players who lack even an iota of musicianship, while attentive listeners who arent endowed with the technique or the coordination necessary to achieve an adequate performance often feel the music more acutely than those who actually play it. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Sergey Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky, Lieutenant Kij Suite, Scythian Suite London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Orchestra (DG) Amazon CD & mp3 | Qobuz | Spotify. 25 (1917), Symphony #4 in C Major, Op. He could not have known that he would be returning to the purges of Stalins terror. Had audiences in 1824 heard anything more elemental than Beethoven's Ninths opening bars? Prokofievs final international tour was in 1938. Sergue Sergueevitch Prokofiev / (1891-1953)*Click to activate the English subtitles for the presentation* (00:00-04:25)Symphony . The finale, as it starts, is very fast, quite exhilarating, with orchestral virtuosity on display. Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. Symphonies. Postmaster List of compositions by Sergei Prokofiev - Wikipedia Musically the Fourth and Fifth symphonies are similar in their epic character, even though the former features much music drawn from Prokofiev's ballet The Prodigal Son. It has received its share of fine recordings, one of the most recent which I reviewed here by Pietari Inkinen and the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie on SWR (review). Prokofiev felt out of place. For years the clear recommendation has been Neeme Jrvis masterful traversal with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra on Chandos, but the re-release of these barely-remembered Vladimir Ashkenazy performances gives that long-prized set a new run for its money. From the titanic struggles of a mighty being still caught in the toils of this world which the composer said fired the first movement, to redemption and resurrection in the choral finale, Mahler couldnt resist describing his C minor Symphony in programmatic terms. Scowcroft's British light music, MusicWeb In the crushing first-movement climaxes, audiophiles also will be pleased with the substantial weight in the percussion and the clearly audible tam-tam crashes that can literally make or break recordings of this work. 1995-2022 Classical NetUse of text, images, or any other copyrightable material contained in these pages, without the written permission of the copyright holder,except as specified in the Copyright Notice, is strictly prohibited. Repertoire: The BEST Prokofiev Symphony No. The Third Symphony comes across as driven and menacing, with even the lyrical themes in the first movement sounding tortured and darker than usual. Haydn used the symphony as a vehicle of emotion, which intensified when Beethoven took on the symphony. Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. 1, 5, 6 & 7; Autumnal; Overture on Hebrew Themes Review | Gramophone What really marks this work out is the brilliant way in which Tchaikovsky manipulates the emotional argument and brings a new, frightening dimension to symphonic thinking, the unifying factor a sequence of descending scales that mirrors the Symphonys long-term narrative of a descent into the abyss. Your donation helps the Houston Symphony enrich the lives of more than 400,000 Houstonians annually. ', Jean-Efflam Bavouzet pno BBC Philharmonic / Gianandrea Noseda (Chandos), 'Bavouzet displays a light touch and laudable levels of physical stamina, with a firm grasp of the very different personalities of each piece. Scored in one 22-minute-long movement, originally christened Fantasia sinfonica, Sibelius wrote his Symphony No. Presto CD 4 (Prokofiev) Symphony No. Daring and decorum in equal measure in this landmark sonata cycle, Characteristic insight and intelligence from Brendel, Beethoven as poetry, Gould as ever is his own man, which is to say, a genius to some, Pollini is a structural master One huge exhalation of creative breath, said Gramophone, Goulds unique take on Bergs early work still fascinates today, Lovely singing enhances Seiji Ozawas showpiece conception. No wonder it went down well at the premiere, with the critic Eduard Hanslick declaring it an unqualified success. It really works for me and does not seem a minute too hasty. 6 (Prokofiev) Symphony No. The opening melodythen returnsin the cellos and double basses as these melodies are fragmented, recombined, and made to interact with each other. [8/21/2002], SERGEI PROKOFIEV - Symphony No. Perhaps, but it is great fun all the same. I am quite happy that I now have two excellent recordings of the cycle. Prokofiev Syms Kosler SUPRAPHON SU 4093-2 [NB]: Classical Music Reviews - October 2012 MusicWeb-International Founder: Len Mullenger Editor in Chief: John Quinn Some items to consider Current reviews pre-2023 reviews paid for advertisements All Forgotten Records Reviews TROUBADISC All Troubadisc reviews FOGHORN Classics Brahms String Quartets 'Piano Concerto No. SERGEI PROKOFIEV - Symphony No. Recommended recording: BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Mark Wigglesworth BIS-CD-973/974, Beethovens return to life a bubbling cauldron of exuberance and vitality. by Katherine Cooper. The symphony begins simply, with a lyrical melody shared by the flute and bassoon: Prokofiev was perhaps the greatest melodist of his time, and this symphony is full of his uniquely beautiful melodies. Recommended recording: Orchestra Mozart/Claudio Abbado DG 477 7598, The symphonic game-changer which has both terrified and inspired composers ever since. Which might explain the occasional oddball recommendation. I especially love his Sonata for Two Violins in C, and the Violin Concerto No.2 in G Minor. Listening itself is an art, and when, as a music journalist or critic, you set out to interview performing musicians about repertoire or about other performers, you will very quickly be shown the door if your own musical intuition is found wanting. The symphony was a brilliant international success, and marked the highpoint of Prokofievs standing within Russia during his lifetime. 100; Symphony No. The Fifth Symphony has many competitors (Karajan, Jrvi, Slatkin, and Maazel, among the better ones) but Ashkenazys rendition stands up well, with genuinely exuberant playing from the Amsterdam forces. This closely mirrored the processes of debate and interaction used in human communication, and it struck a chord deep in audiences. Prokofiev finished the symphony in September, and the premiere was scheduled for November 4. If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription toGramophoneplease click herefor further information. What is the difference between a concerto and a symphony? But my true friends will see that the style of my symphony is precisely Mozartian classicism and will value it accordingly, while the public will no doubt just be content to hear happy and uncomplicated music which it will, of course, applaud. On that account he was exactly right; with its impish sense of humor, impeccable craftsmanship and charming melodies, the symphony was a breath of fresh air, and it has remained one of the composers most popular works. Try 6 issues for just 9.99 when you subscribe to BBC Music Magazine today! I found the movement extraordinarily easy to write, and the only thing I was concerned with was that its gaiety might border on the indecently irresponsible. Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 'Classical' - Presto Music Here Rozhdestvensky captures Op. This is the final instalment of Andrew Litton's Prokofiev symphony cycle, one of the most sonically sophisticated in the lists. The answer lies in how composers quickly developed a habit in their symphonies of pitting one theme against another, weighing the relative merits of each, then pulling their conclusions together. In-hall and livestream tickets are still available for this weekends performance of Mendelssohns Scottish Symphony, featuring Prokofievs Symphony No. 6 in E flat minor, Op. Walt Disney himself tried to lure Prokofiev back to the West with a lucrative Hollywood contract, but Prokofievs two young sons were already in Moscow and there was no way he could accept. This article first appeared in the May 2016 issue of BBC Music Magazine. 111 (1947) Symphony #7 in C Sharp minor, Op. All three thankfully prefer the original ending of the symphony, rather than the throwaway one that Prokofiev later tacked on to appease the cultural ideologists. I recently got into Prokofiev, and need recommendations for recordings of his symphonies to listen to. 6 in E-flat minor Op. The second movement isa fast, maniacal scherzo,full of Prokofievs characteristically sardonic sense of humor. These two Prokofiev symphonies make excellent disc mates and as such this disc is self-recommending in absolutely first-rate performances and recording. Editor in Chief 3 (Prokofiev) Symphony No. . Meyerholds wife was found dead, brutally stabbed in the eyes. Andrew Litton on Prokofiev. 5 in B-flat major Op. 25 ("Classical"); Autumnal Op. Prokofievs appreciation for the small, simple comforts found there is revealing of the hardships they otherwise endured: our room is big and quiet and they feed us wonderfully. But Abbado places the emotional climax of the work at the tragic lament after the battle. Prokofiev: The Symphonies - BIS: BIS2594 - Presto Music The improved sound of this issue makes this certainly one of the better accounts of this still misunderstood masterpiece. From my original finale I salvaged only the second subject. The common ground that musical performers and critics share concerns the basic essentials of interpretative genius, not least a discernible musical personality, respect for rather than slavish adherence to the score, a musical sense of timing, a feeling for period and appropriate style and, more vital than anything, that indefinable quality that signals a symbiotic rapport between the performer and the composer. Gramophone is part of Ashkenazy is light and breezy in the beginning of the movement, but is also very moving and poignant in the slow section before ending the work with power and clarity. Still, Rozhdestvensky is convincing on his own more gritty terms and presents a set that Prokofiev mavens will find highly desirable. 25 (1916-17) Its even been dubbed Brahmss Pastoral. Some recordings also include the final bars of the revised ending, for example Alsops, but Ashkenazy simply retains Prokofievs original thoughts and nothing more. Recommended recording: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Bernard Haitink Decca 478 5690, Beethovens ground breaking pastoral masterpiece is the ultimate hymn to nature. Rob Barnett 8; Overture on Hebrew Themes Op. I recently got into Prokofiev, and need recommendations for recordings of his symphonies to listen to. Beethovens Seventh is a restless beast, full of driving, unnerving energy less about melody, more about rhythm and orchestration. As if it matters. Bruckner pays homage to his hero, Richard Wagner, in a work of great hope and light. Jonathan Woolf At the age of 11, he began studying piano, theory, composition, and orchestration privately with Reinhold Glire. 1 in D Classical, Op. The LSO Chorus sing splendidly, even if one senses they are carefully controlled. 100 (1945) Symphony #6 in E Flat minor, Op. Despite some chaos and confusion, it seemed that 300 years of oppressive Romanov rule would at last be replaced by some sort of constitutional democracy, an outcome that the composer optimistically embraced. The Soviets were pushing back the Nazis from their borders, and the US and British Allies had landed on the beaches of Normandy in June. Hallelujah for Handel! Brahmss Fourth baffled even his friends: sombre, austere with a Baroque passacaglia it appeared willfully unfashionable. Apparently, the judges did not notice the subversive messages encoded into it that later commentators have discerned. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Prokofiev fled the chaos in his native land, immigrating to the West. Thanks guys! Which is the best-ever symphony? None of the four in my comparisons are of that persuasion, but the key is to make the last four notes clear enough to hear their articulation while retaining a deliberate speed by transforming the conclusion into a juggernaut. To be honest I'd always hated his music, mostly because of over-hearing the 1st Symphony. 5 in B flat, op. But on this occasion Ill happily endorse it. 1 in D major, Op. But would you give up Beethoven Nine for a chance to hear them? Rozhdestvensky uses the original ending in the Seventh, which is always a wise decision. I possess vinyl discs of this performance of #2 on both Everest and Melodiya that seemed to suggest that the other symphonies, which appeared on Melodiya/Angel in the 1960s, had somewhat different miking and better balances. Foghorn Reviews, Songs to Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 112 rendition, the later one has been more often performed and recorded, and is in my opinion superior to Op. Prokofiev seems to end by asking,But what comes after the victory?. The best symphonies of all time 20) Bruckner - Symphony No. Prokofiev: The Complete Symphonies - amazon.com And it was a stroke of genius to place the slow movement not second but third, enabling its climactic profundity something Gustav Mahler learnt from. Vladimir Ashkenazys perceptive interpretations and the superb playing of the Cleveland Orchestra move these recordings to the top echelon of the competition for the two symphonies. The best symphony of all time has to be the Eroica. Below, contributing editor and reviewer Rob Cowan muses on why artists and critics might choose differently "Do you play yourself? There cant be a music critic in the land who hasnt at one time or another been asked that very question. Serge Sergeievich Prokofieff was born in Ukraine on November 23, 1891. Webmaster As the orchestra grinds to a haltreminding me of a locomotive slowing downand the second subject of the first movement reappears, the power of the full orchestra is palpable. I did have a few reservations about Alsops, mainly her tempo variations in the second movement with her headlong rush to the end. Ashkenazy, who successfully recorded Cinderella, excels here. ', New Philharmonia Orchestra / Richard Bakernarr/ Raymond Leppardcond(EMI), Gramophone Magazine Collection Winner - March 2011, 'Richard Baker, the broadcaster and music buff, had one of the great microphone voices of recent times. all 7 in C-sharp minor Op. Slatkin takes nearly 17 minutes and is very heavy; Gergiev accomplishes this in a little over 14; while Inkinen manages it in 15. Prokofiev's Piano Concertos best recordings | Classical Music Classical Net Review - Prokofieff - Complete Symphonies The solo clarinet then launches intoa quick, vivacious theme. Sort by: Results per page: Showing 10 results per page. The whole thing is wrought from the brilliantly simple notion of a not-quite-finished tune (first heard on cellos) that continually strives for completion, and each time goes off in some fascinating new direction. 1 in D major Op. Shostakovich Fifth Symphony sounds a lament in its third movement, expressing what was too dangerous to be said during Stalins Great Terror. Specifically the 3rd, 5th and 6th symphonies. His music had a profound effect on the 20th century and continues to inspire audiences today through music for ballet, film and concert hall. Read More Track Listing - Disc 1 Track Listing - Disc 2 Track Listing - Disc 3 Track Listing - Disc 4 blue highlight denotes track pick Valery Gergiev Discography Browser next Prokofiev: The Complete Symphonies Album Information Release Date May 16, 2006 Duration Gramophone Award Winner Instrumental Award 2019, 'Exceptional artistry, technical perfection and boundless imagination it says on the back cover. Celebrating the 130th anniversary of Sergei Prokofiev (1891 - 1953), the present box set brings together recordings of his seven symphonies made by Andrew Litton and . Absolute Ensemble; Lower Austria Tonknstler Orch / Kristjan Jrvi, A thrilling account of Bernsteins rediscovered Mass, Fascinating rhythm in two iconic American scores, Sols incl Marilyn Horne; Met Op, New York / Leonard Bernstein, Carmen, Bernstein-style: swaggering, charismatic, Harnoncourts Brahms is idiomatic, though theres plenty of fascinating musical exploration, The legendary Russian maestro does Brahms, Power and elegance go hand in hand with Giulinis Brahms, with the VPO on terrific form, Incandescent, elemental playing from the Berliners under Furtwngler, The great partnership of the Vienna Phil and Giulini caught at its finest, For many the Haydn Variations are the jewel here, richly characterised, superbly varied, Julius Katchen pf LSO / Pierre Monteux; Jnos Ferencsik, Awesome virtuosity and highly sensitive playing, Soloist and conductor at their peaks, an old favourite, Old-school conductor meets brilliant young soloist, David Oistrakh vn Cleveland Orch / George Szell, The king of violinists on scintillating form, Wolfgang Schneiderhan vn Jnos Starker vc Berlin RSO / Ferenc Fricsay, Rubinstein the veteran joins the young Guarneris, Heifetz as ever is technically brilliant but wonderfully songful here, too, Revelations pour over each other from one of the great Brahmsians of our day, Charlotte Margiono sop Rodney Gilfry bar Monteverdi Choir; ORR / John Eliot Gardiner, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf sop Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau bar Philh Chorus; Philh Orch / Otto Klemperer, Juggernaut power in Klemperers famous recording, The third quartet here was written for these players, and they play superbly, Sols incl Jon Vickers; Royal Opera / Colin Davis, Britten hated Vickerss Grimes, thousands loved it, Highly charged, romantically intense Bruckner, Jochums Eighth is his weak point but Karajans radiates warmth and splendour, Vivid performances of this rarely heard masterwork, Amazing playing and bold insights go hand in hand with Pletnev, Scintillating expressiveness in a recording that is part of gramophone history, Theres mystery as well as clarity in Boulezs La mer recordings, Theres a compelling intensity of character to these dazzling performances, De los Angeles caught in Debussy and Faur, Pellas meets Wagners Tristan in this controversial (to some, overheated) reading, Tortelier commands the demands of Dutilleux, By turns explosive and searchingly lyrical, Kertszs is the classic Dvok set, Neumanns rival to Kertsz features terrific playing, Georgeously lyrical and integrated playing from the Beaux Arts Trio, Restless, probing interpretations in the composers knowing hands, Essential for Elgarians, two inspired performances, Monteuxs famous Enigma with LSO forces still feels fresh and revealing, Sols incl Janet Baker; Hall Orch / John Barbirolli, Janet Baker is magnificent in this moving Gerontius, A starry reclamation for Enescus epic opera, Theatricality abounds in this Spanish journey, Faurs choral works reimagined for boys choir and organ, Intimate music-making from du Pr and Barenboim, A spectacular, heartfelt Vietnam memorial from Copland pupil Elliott Goldenthal, Leon Fleisher pf Cleveland Orch / George Szell, For many, the finest accounts of these works, Alert, alive and light-footed, Manze and the players clearly have a ball, Rich-toned recordings from the Musikverein, A fine example of the music of French electronic-school composer Pierre Henry, Sols incl Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau; Munich RO / Kurt Eichhorn, Brilliant playing in a set often unfairly overlooked, Sols incl Lucia Popp; VPO / Charles Mackerras, Mackerras is incomparable in this repertoire, A Sei Voci explore Josquin for the Nave label, Barry Tuckwell hn London Sinf / Oliver Knussen, Bewitching music from composer Oliver Knussen, Kodly was a great Jnos Starker admirer and the cellist here shows why, Korngolds film score turned into a tone-poem and evocatively conducted by John Mauceri, A fine display of intense, mesmeric contemplation, Hans-Peter Blochwitz ten Budapest Fest Orch / Ivn Fischer, Brilliantly alert, with a touch of Satanic wit, Beauty, power, excitement and lyrical singing, Brendel brings dignity and tension to Liszt, Bernstein in earth-shaking form with the Israel Phil, Kubelk, one of the first and among the finest Mahler advocates, Bernstein again, this time with the polish of the New York Philharmonic, Judith Raskin sop Cleveland Orch / George Szell, Deep feeling in one of Szells finest hours, A Bernstein pupil in dramatic vein and great sound, Bernstein had to persuade the Austrians to love Mahler, with fabulous results, Kubelk in the studio is great, live hes even better, A deserving Gramophone Record of the Year, Violent intensity and sweetness in Rattles Vienna Mahler Ninth, Passion and commitment in Rattles overpowering championing of Mahlers Tenth Symphony, Janet Baker mez Hall Orch / John Barbirolli, Includes the classic Rckert-Lieder recording, Mlkkis showcase for the young French composer, Messiaens own favourite recording of this work, Music of devotion and playing of simply stunning virtuosity, Sols incl Jos van Dam; Hall Orch / Kent Nagano, Messiaens only opera and his magnum opus, Ennio Morricones seminal music from the 1986 Jeremy Irons film, English Baroque Soloists / John Eliot Gardiner, Dramatic accounts of the last two symphonies, Impassioned advocacy of these popular concertos, Geza Anda, Clara Haskil pfs Philh Orch / Alceo Galliera, Dennis Brain hn Philh Orch / Herbert von Karajan, Flawless solo playing in the classic recording, Two great pianists, one great sonata captured at Snape Maltings, Sols incl Stephan Schreckenberger; Le Concert des Nations / Jordi Savall, Savalls intimate reading of Mozarts final work, Sols incl Elizabeth Schwarzkopf; Philh Orch / Karl Bhm, Bhms finest Mozart opera set, with a dream cast, Sols incl Rodney Gilfry; English Baroque Soloists / John Eliot Gardiner, An energetic interpretation, as compelling as any, Sols incl Joan Sutherland; Philh Orch / Carlo Maria Giulini, Giulinis Giovanni grand and theatrical, Sols incl Anne Sofie Von Otter; English Baroque Soloists / John Eliot Gardiner, Sols incl Werner Hollweg; Zrich Op / Nikolaus Harnoncourt, The 1781 version played for dramatic intensity, Sols incl Bryn Terfel; English Baroque Soloists / John Eliot Gardiner, Sols incl Simon Keenlyside; Concerto Kln / Ren Jacobs, Jacobss conducting is sparkling and mischievous, Sols incl Kiri te Kanawa; LPO / Georg Solti, A starry cast bristles with theatricality, Soltis best-loved Mozart recording, a Zauberflte to crown his career, USSR State SO, Russian Federation SO / Evgeny Svetlanov, Svetlanov rescued these symphonies from neglect, The bright young things genre-defying collection of miniatures, As unique as they are unpredictable, these studies are revelatory ear-openers, Every detail can be heard with razor-sharp clarity on this supreme disc, Estonian Philh Chbr Choir; Estonian Nat SO / Tnu Kaljuste, Exhilaration, piety and lamentation mingle, A powerful testament to the expression of faith, The blazing live performances that won Gergiev his job at the helm of the LSO, Martha Argerich pf Montreal SO / Charles Dutoit, Argerichs response is utterly personal and vivacious, Sviatoslav Richter pf Warsaw PO / Witold Rowicki, Sizzling account of a difficult-to-pin-down concerto, An exciting live recording from Amsterdam, featuring a young Anna Netrebko, Sols incl Luciano Pavarotti; BPO / Herbert von Karajan, A grand Bohme, with Pavarotti and Mirella Freni, Sols incl Maria Callas; La Scala, Milan / Victor de Sabata, One of the greatest achievements on record, A fine recording, immaculately delivered, and boasting some exceptional soloists, Sols incl Sarah Connolly; OAE / Elizabeth Kenny, Steven Devine, Connollys exquisitely sung Dido leads a great cast, Glorious playing and wonderful, expansive conducting from a true podium master, Zoltan Kocsis pf San Francisco SO / Edo de Waart, Fast, light, incisive Kocsis is on top form, Phenomenal virtuosity from Kissin with Ozawa, The first virtuoso pianist-composer of the recording era: these discs remain fascinating, Robert Shaw Festival Singers / Robert Shaw, Shaw coaxes great warmth from his singers, A great Baroque conductor meets a great composer, A compelling work that beautifully captures the Finnish composers evocative sound world, Samson Franois pf Paris Conservatoire Orch / Andr Cluytens, Franois plays with tremendous vitality and spirit. The last part of the battle sequence is hauntingly nostalgic and prepares the way for Obraztsova's beautiful solo, with its wonderfully expressive orchestral backcloth.'. Do crime novelists need to be criminals, or theatre critics playwrights? the faux-classical dances Tchaikovsky wrote for, Hallelujah for Handel!