Prokofiev: Symphonies 2 & 3 – Vladimir Jurowski

   in Classical Music (Jan, 2018)
Vladimir Jurowski has left Londoners in no doubt of his affinity for the music of his homeland in his performances with the LPO. Here, he heads the State Academic SO of Russia in powerful performances of two of Prokofiev’s lesser-performed symphonies.

Both symphonies date from before the second world war. Jurowski himself describes the second symphony as ‘strange, futuristic’. The dissonant, forward-moving first movement is viscerally presented; the set of variations that comprises the works’ second part houses real beauty. The recording is impeccable, picking up every nuance. A terrific account, sparkling and intense.

The third symphony uses musical material from the composer’s opera The Fiery Angel. Jurowski strikes at the …