Genre: Ballet
Duration: 35 minutes (approximate)
|
|
Scene 1
The Departure
Meeting friends
The siren
The Dancers
Scene 2
Prodigal son and the siren
Drunkenness
The Despoiling
Awakening and remorse
Scene 3
Sharing the spoils (Interlude)
The return
|
|
|
|
Composed: |
1928-1929
|
|
Commission:
|
Commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev.
|
|
Premiere:
|
21-May-1929, Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, Paris. Ballets Russes, conducted by Roger Desormière, choreographed by Georges Balancine..
|
|
Scenario:
|
Scenario by Boris Kochno.
|
|
|
|
|
Orchestration: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, english horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (cymbals, triangle, bass drum, tambourine, snare drum), and strings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prokofiev: The Prodigal Son, etc / Järvi, Scottish NO
Conductor: Neeme Jarvi
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Catalog Num: Chandos 8728
It is easy to recommend this recording: to the best of my knowledge, there is currently no competition on CD in any of these works, though it is possible the Rozhdestvensky/Melodiya performance of The Prodigal Son has recently been reissued. It was an excellent reading that appeared on a Vox Cum Laude LP in 1982. But then so is Järvi's, catching all the power, all the delicacy, all the shades in between in their right portion. And he is keenly alert to the work's colorful fabrics, perfectly capturing the subtle sensuality in The Siren (track 9), the freneticism in Drunkenness (track 12), and the tenderness in The Return (track 16). His powerful rendering of the Symphonic Song is absolutely riveting in its tension and eventual yielding to peace. In lesser hands the greatness of this complex work might fail to register. His sensitive shaping of the Andante makes the best possible case for the orchestral version of the piece, and his skillful handling of the lyricism and wit in the Divertimento will cause you to wonder why this attractive work (recorded only once before, by Joseph Egger on a Grenadilla LP with the Vienna Radio Orchestra) isn't more popular. I could well imagine that were all these works more heavily recorded, Järvi's readings would still be top drawer in each. The Chandos sound reproduction is better here than in earlier efforts like the symphonies: the velvety Scottish strings have more presence, the reverberance is perfect, and the brass, as always, have burnished power and brilliance.
[Robert Cummings]
[ Read the complete review... ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prokofiev: Le Pas d'Acier, L'Enfant Prodigue / Jurowski
Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev
Conductor: Michail Jurowski
Orchestra/Ensemble: Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra
Catalog Num: CPO Records 999 974
Release Date: November 18, 2003
|
|
|
|
Prokofiev: Symphony no 4, The Prodigal Son / Kuchar
Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev
Conductor: Theodore Kuchar
Orchestra/Ensemble: Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra
Catalog Num: Naxos 8.553055
Release Date: April 20, 1999
|
|
|
|
|
Prokofiev: The Prodigal Son, etc / Järvi, Scottish NO
Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev
Conductor: Neeme Jarvi
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Catalog Num: Chandos 8728
Release Date: December 28, 1989
|
|
|
|
Prokofiev: The Prodigal Son, Chout / Rozhdestvensky, USSR
Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev
Conductor: Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
Orchestra/Ensemble: USSR State Symphony Orchestra, USSR Radio/TV Large Symphony Orchestra
Catalog Num: Consonance 815004
Release Date: 9/1/96
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prokofiev - 50th Anniversary Sampler
Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev
Artist(s): Lina Prokofiev (narrator), Horracio Gutierrez (piano), Lydia Mordkovitch (violin), Boris Berman (piano), Carole Farley (mezzo), Linda Finnie (contralto), etc.
Conductor: Neeme Jarvi, Richard Hickox
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra
Catalog Num: Chandos CHAN 0022
Release Date: March 25, 2003
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
