in Piano International (Mar, 2016)
Memories should still be fresh of Gergiev’s epic Prom survey of all five Prokofiev concertos in one night. As then, Volodin and Babayan acquit themselves with elan, making both problematic scores come alive, ably supported by the Mariinsky Orchestra (a shade less virtuosically than the LSO). Neither, however, displaces the best of the competition, such as Ashkenazy/Previn (Decca) or more recently Bavouzet/Noseda (Chandos). Gergiev adopts some wayward tempi throughout, for instance in the hectically torrential central Toccata of No 5, or in the three symphonies, where he is markedly slower than in his much-praised LSO cycle – catastrophically so in the opening Allegro moderato of No 6, which loses all impetus. …
Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos.4, 6 & 7 / Piano Concertos Nos.4 & 5
Piano Concerto No 4 in B-flat major, Op. 53
Piano Concerto No 5 in G major, Op. 55
Symphony No 4 in C major, Op. 112
Symphony No 6 in E-flat minor, Op. 111
Symphony No 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131
Volodin / Babayan / Mariinsky Orchestra / Valery Gergiev
26,90€
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