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Post by MartinT on Apr 8, 2020 1:23:07 GMT
 I thought it was high time I chose some Prokofiev on account of his being one of my favourite composers. What to choose? At one end are the very likeable Classical Symphony and Lieutenant Kije and at the other, more difficult material like the rest of his Symphonies. I've gone for The Love of Three Oranges with the conceit being that this album also includes the Classical Symphony and Lieutenant Kije. What a lovely selection! There is much that is simultaneously complex and melodic about Prokofiev's music. I can't really say what it is I like so much about the music, but the content of this album will say it better than I can. The Love of Three Oranges is an orchestral suite taken from the satirical opera. The most recognised section is the third movement, Marche, but it's all well worth a listen. open.qobuz.com/track/51278625 |
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 8, 2020 3:51:10 GMT
One of your favourite composers is Prokofiev? OMG. I agree that he has two aspects. For me his 'approachable' music is usually too much so, and his complex music is unpleasantly, gratingly unlistenable. Definitely one of my least favourite composers! Hmm, Poulenc and now Prokofiev. I definitely see a pattern here!  Still, Love of 3 Oranges is new to me, but I can't say I am much looking forward to this! But thank heaven for small mercies, at least it's an orchestral suite that's being inflicted on me and not the whole opera! |
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 8, 2020 5:12:23 GMT
Way too jerkily jolly for the most part, definitely reminiscent of Poulenc! - the suite is saved from 1/5 devastation for me by the very attractive 'Prince and Princess' movement. I listened to that 3 times. It would take good money, and considerable amounts of it, to make me listen to the rest of the suite again!
2/5 (4/5 for the good bit, 1/5 for the rest)
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Post by MartinT on Apr 8, 2020 9:03:10 GMT
LOL - the moment you mention Poulenc, Jerry, I can tell it's going to go downhill from there!
Yes, there are similarities. I tried to describe Prokofiev as complex but melodic and, together with Poulenc, they both do the odd dissonance to keep you on your toes. I like the richness and texture.
Thanks for listening. What do you think of the Classical Symphony (No. 1)?
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 8, 2020 9:29:20 GMT
What do you think of the Classical Symphony (No. 1)? It's annoying. |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 8, 2020 9:30:35 GMT
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Post by Mr Whippy on Apr 8, 2020 9:32:53 GMT
Can't remember the last time I had an orange...
When I was a young 'un, used to cut them into quarters and put them in the freezer.
Looking for 3 might be seen as... Piggish, in these restrictive times...
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Post by Slinger on Apr 8, 2020 20:08:46 GMT
But, you don't LIKE opera.  I've got a Valery Gergiev version, with the Kirov Opera & Orchestra. I'll give it a blast. |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 8, 2020 20:56:27 GMT
Let us know what you think, Paul.
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Post by Pinch on Apr 8, 2020 21:09:28 GMT
Just started this. So far I'm enjoying the smaller moments - some nice melodies there - but finding the bigger ones a bit jarring. He doesn't like to settle on one mood for very long does he!
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Post by Slinger on Apr 8, 2020 21:49:46 GMT
Sorry, Martin, your three oranges is a bit of a lemon as far as I'm concerned. Act 3. Scene 3 - "Da, ya Printsessa Ninetta!" was rather lovely, and Act 4. Scene 2 - "Tron v poryadke?" got properly Russian, but it was a long time to wait for a couple of highlights. Only a 2 from me.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 8, 2020 22:23:36 GMT
Were you listening to the full opera, rather than the orchestral suite?
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Post by Slinger on Apr 8, 2020 22:29:17 GMT
Were you listening to the full opera, rather than the orchestral suite? The whole shebang, two CDs-worth. Looking at the cover of the album you've linked though it seems I may have put myself through some unnecessary earache.  |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 8, 2020 23:03:36 GMT
You deffo want the suite, never the full opera. Such torture!
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 9, 2020 5:53:42 GMT
Prokofiev is always torture! ... I agree with the general trend of thought here, though, an occasional splash of excellent music sunk in a sea of dreck. The famous bit from the Montagues and Capulets from R&J - my gosh, I'm not at all sure that music in the grand, romantic manner gets much better than that. It's not that he couldn't compose good music, he just chose not to do so most of the time! The piano sonatas, violin concertos, most of the symphonies, piano concertos (although there are some glimmers in PC3? iirc) - mostly just noise  I have to (reluctantly!) confess a degree of tolerance for some of the chamber music - string quartets, violin sonatas. And then he does irritating cutesy things like the 1st symphony and Lt Kije.  Or so it seems to me. |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 9, 2020 8:32:06 GMT
Yes, Romeo and Juliet is rather epic, and far better than Tchaikovsky's rather turgid effort.
It's all down to what tickles our brains, isn't it? Poulenc and Prokofiev just gel with me, although I do find the latter's symphonies (apart from the 1st) hard work.
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Post by Slinger on Apr 9, 2020 13:06:15 GMT
I listened to the two violin concertos last night, and thoroughly enjoyed them.
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 9, 2020 13:47:08 GMT
OK! - time for a re-visit!
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 9, 2020 14:08:29 GMT
OK! - time for a re-visit! VC1 - Vengerov - apart from a fairly short Shostakovichian central episode the 1st mvt sets my teeth on edge! Not at all pleasant. 2nd mvt once again the dissonance is somehow wrong for me -- Shosty is dissonant and I like it, SergeP is dissonant and it makes me feel dizzy and vaguely sick. There must be a musical explanation for these differences between DS and SP, but musically untutored as I am I have no idea what it is. Nope, I just have to write SergeP off as a composer I am not in sympathy with. As Martin said, It's all down to what tickles our brains, isn't it? Yup - rewarding tickle; good - abrasive disorientation; bad! |
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 11, 2020 13:38:00 GMT
The album 'art work' ( I use the term loosely ) is shockingly unimaginative but thankfully the music and performance isn't ...
< There is much that is simultaneously complex and melodic about Prokofiev's music. >
Agreed, Martin!
I really enjoy the Suite, but as it's from an opera one has to approach it from a slightly different perspective and possibly make up your own visual narrative for it. I find it really colourful and inventive the way it dips in and out of its musical themes which are strikingly evocative in parts. Batiz always good value with the full-blooded recordings I have heard from him; it's a sparkling performance from the London Phil.
I've always loved 'Kije' - is there anyone who doesn't enjoy the 'Troika' ??
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