Prokofiev.org - Symphony No 3 in C minor Op.44

Symphony No 3 in C minor, Op 44

Genre: Symphony
Key: C minor
Duration: 33 minutes (approximate)

  1.   Moderato
  2.   Andante
  3.   Allegro agitato
  4.   Andante mosso- Allegro agitato

Composed:	1928
Premiere:	17-May-1929, Paris. Orchestre Symphonique de Paris conducted by Pierre Monteux.

Orchestration: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, english horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 3 percussionists (tubular bells, cymbals, tam-tam, castanets, bass drum, snare drum, tambourine), 2 harps, and strings.


	Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 "Classical" / Symphony No. 3 / Muti, Philadelphia Orchestra Conductor: Riccardo Muti Orchestra/Ensemble: Philadelphia Orchestra Catalog Num: Philips 4329922 With this recording of the symphony, we have for once the marriage of superb musicianship and spectacular sound reproduction. Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra seem possessed in their execution of this score, at one with the grim subject matter from which the music was drawn. From the screaming opening notes to the diabolical closing chords of the finale, you know you're hearing a performance conducted by a man whose baton is dripping with venom. Muti has the full measure of the score. And the Philadelphians deliver utterly virtuosic playing in capturing the contrasting virtues of brazenness and silken refinement in their correct measure. Listen to the compellingly grotesque march (track 1; 10:38) that climaxes the first movement and sends the remainder of its music into a sort of mesmerizing tailspin. Or hear how the scurrying, bizarre string theme in the third movement is rendered with such nasty relish. And I doubt the evil menace in the finale has ever been performed with such...well, evil menace. And let's not overlook the thoughtful performance of the second movement, with its quiet repose, with its hints of danger lurking behind the corner. The Classical Symphony, as one might expect, is performed with the same interpretive alertness and virtuosic skill. What vigor and joy we hear in this rendition! Of the competition in the Third Symphony, Järvi/Chandos, Rostropovich/Erato, Weller/London, and Martinon/Vox, none quite match Muti, though Järvi comes close. He has a lesser orchestra and overly bright sound, but offers a thoroughly compelling vision of the score. (I have not yet heard the Ozawa/DG recording but suspect that it, like most of his Prokofiev, is excellent.) [Robert Cummings] [ Read the complete review... ]

	Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 "Classical" / Symphony No. 3 / Muti, Philadelphia Orchestra Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Riccardo Muti Orchestra/Ensemble: Philadelphia Orchestra Catalog Num: Philips 4329922 Release Date: 1992

	Prokofiev, Shostakovich: Symphonies / Rozhdestvensky, et al Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich Conductor: Yuri Temirkanov, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky Orchestra/Ensemble: USSR State Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Russian Revelation RV 10025 Release Date: April 21, 1998

	Prokofiev: Complete Symphonies Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Valery Gergiev Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Philips 475 7655 6 Release Date: May 9, 2006

	Prokofiev: Complete Symphonies / Järvi, Royal Scottish NO Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Neeme Jarvi Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Catalog Num: Chandos 8931 Release Date: April 25, 1991

	Prokofiev: Complete Symphonies / Rostropovich Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich Orchestra/Ensemble: Orchestre National de France Catalog Num: Atlantic/Erato 2292-45737-2 Release Date: 1988

	Prokofiev: Orchestral Masterpieces Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Ana Maria Iriarte (mezzo-soprano) Conductor: Johannes Somary, Mario Rossi, Maurice de Abravanel Orchestra/Ensemble: English Chamber Orchestra, Utah Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Staatsopernorchester Catalog Num: Vanguard Classics 1511 Release Date: June 8, 2004

	Prokofiev: Symphonies / Kosler / Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Zdenek Kosler Orchestra/Ensemble: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Supraphon SU 0091-2 014 Release Date: 03/19/1996

	Prokofiev: Symphonies 3 & 4 / Järvi, Scottish National Orch Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Neeme Jarvi Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Catalog Num: Chandos 8401 Release Date: February 28, 1988

	Prokofiev: Symphonies no 2 & 3 / Gennady Rozhdestvensky Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Gennadi Rozhdestvensky Orchestra/Ensemble: USSR Radio/TV Large Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Consonance 815006 Release Date: August 1, 1996

	Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos 2, 3, 4 / Kosler Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Zdenek Kosler Orchestra/Ensemble: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Supraphon 1110 3731 ZA Release Date: 1983

	Prokofiev: Symphonies nos 3 & 7 / Kuchar, Ukrainian NSO Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Theodore Kuchar Orchestra/Ensemble: Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Naxos 8.553054 Release Date: August 30, 1995

	Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4 Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Gennadi Rozhdestvensky Orchestra/Ensemble: USSR Radio/TV Large Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: BMG/Melodiya 74321 669792

	Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 3 Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Erich Leinsdorf Orchestra/Ensemble: Boston Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Testament Release Date: December 13, 2005

	Prokofiev: Symphony No 3 / Rozhdestvensky Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Gennadi Rozhdestvensky Orchestra/Ensemble: USSR State Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Melodiya D 08271

	Prokofiev: The 7 Symphonies / Ozawa, Berlin Philharmonic Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Andreas Schmidt (baritone) Conductor: Seiji Ozawa Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 463 761-2 Release Date: May 2, 2000

	Prokofiev: The 7 Symphonies / Ozawa, Berlin Philharmonic Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Seiji Ozawa Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 431614 Release Date: 11/19/96

	Prokofiev: The Symphonies / Walter Weller, London Symphony Orchestra Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Walter Weller Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: London/Decca 430782 Release Date: September 15, 1991

	Prokofiev: Works for Orchestra Vol II / Jean Martinon Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Jean Martinon Orchestra/Ensemble: ORTF National Orchestra Catalog Num: Vox Allegretto 5054 Release Date: November 26, 1991

	Serge Prokofiev 50th Anniversary Edition: Volume 1 - Symphonies Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Mstislav Rostropovich Orchestra/Ensemble: Orchestre National de France Catalog Num: Warner Classics 0927 49634-2 Release Date: February 14, 2003

	The Classic Sound - Hindemith, Janacek, Prokofiev / Abbado Composer(s): Leos Janácek, Paul Hindemith, Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Claudio Abbado Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: London/Decca 48579 Release Date: September 17, 1996

	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

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