LPO, Jurowski, Royal Festival Hall | reviews, news & interviews
LPO, Jurowski, Royal Festival Hall
LPO, Jurowski, Royal Festival Hall
Searing Prokofiev scores over his worthy but turgid composer-friend Myaskovsky
For many of us, this was bound to be an emotional evening. Noëlle Mann, doyenne of all things Prokofievian on the editorial, archival, teaching and performing fronts, died peacefully at home last Friday, and it was to her that Vladimir Jurowski dedicated a typically bold programme of Prokofiev's late epic for cello and orchestra, the Symphony-Concerto, and a big but rather less focused symphony by his closest composer-friend Nikolay Myaskovsky. Perhaps it's presumptuous to speak for the departed; but I could hear Noëlle responding vitally to her master's voice, applauding Jurowski for championing the lesser-known figure but sternly proclaiming the verdict shared by most of us: that while Prokofiev was touched by the divine spirit, poor, diligent Myaskovsky clearly wasn't.
For many of us, this was bound to be an emotional evening. Noëlle Mann, doyenne of all things Prokofievian on the editorial, archival, teaching and performing fronts, died peacefully at home last Friday, and it was to her that Vladimir Jurowski dedicated a typically bold programme of Prokofiev's late epic for cello and orchestra, the Symphony-Concerto, and a big but rather less focused symphony by his closest composer-friend Nikolay Myaskovsky. Perhaps it's presumptuous to speak for the departed; but I could hear Noëlle responding vitally to her master's voice, applauding Jurowski for championing the lesser-known figure but sternly proclaiming the verdict shared by most of us: that while Prokofiev was touched by the divine spirit, poor, diligent Myaskovsky clearly wasn't.
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Interesting to return to this
It is not at all hostile. I
It is not at all hostile. I have spent much time on Miaskovsky's symphonies in my Russian music Zoom course, and found many beauties there (quoting them). But I still find the overall results uneven.
Thank you for replying. I'll
I'm due to do just that for
I'm due to do just that for the BBC Music Magazine. I can tell you, meanwhile, that I really love the slow introduction of the Fourth Symphony. Two of the piano sonatas are incredibly tough and powerful, too. Although I have the complete symphonies cycle conducted by Svetlanov on CD, I'm grateful to whoever put up the scores to accompany performances on YouTube.
I shall look forward to
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