Reference Recording: Prokofiev's Sixth Symphony

[@jgesselberty]

It was Ormandy's recording that introduced me to this work. As a young listener, having been wowed by the fifth, I was expecting another work in a similar vein. I was wowed, but in a different way.

[@roberttownson9459]

So grateful for the Järvi'/SNO Prokofiev and Dvořák recordings on Chandos! They were my reference recordings for the orchestra! These were what introduced me to the SNO and led me to ultimately record 40 albums of classic film music with the RSNO, starting in 1995!

[@charlesvorones3612]

This is a phenomenal piece, full of wonderfully expressive, anguished passages, and tremendously inventive and beautiful melodies... and even some delightful neo-classicism. Like many works from roughly 1910 -1980, the local concert hall organizers and radio hosts hear one spikey chord and they dismiss it. They don't know what they're missing.

[@Bobbnoxious]

I was working at Tower Classical Records when this was released. It was the first time any of us had heard of Jarvi, but we knew this recording was special in every way. It was on our in-store playlist for a couple of years, and whenever we put it on customers came to the front desk to see what was playing. Tower had a killer sound system and audiophiles in particular gobbled it up, especially when the quick march in the first movement gave our sub-woofers a workout. I've still got the original LP.

[@stevenbugala8375]

For me, it’s the Ormandy stereo account. There’s a part in the first movement where the horns do this cool, resonating Doppler Effect sort of thing that Philly nails.

[@neilford99]

I never really got into the Jarvi recording until Dave's videos. There was an old Mravinsky / Leningrad disk that I listened to over-and-over. I've always thought the 6th to be a masterpiece. Now I am on-board with Jarvi and the (R)SNO. Having heard the SNO many times in late eighties, whenever Jarvi came to guest conduct, it was an experience. Some of the Shostakovich concerts I'm told were stunning. Scotland was very proud of the SNO and these famous recordings.

[@brentstahl204]

Not long after Jarvi's Prokofiev 6 was released in 1985,, I heard him conduct it with the Minnesota Orchestra. It was terrific. It should be performed more.

[@AlexMadorsky]

This is an amazing recording which turned me on to Prok. 6 in a big way. Not only is this the reference recording, I think it helped convince some connoisseurs that a) this is actually Prokofiev’s best symphony and b) Prokofiev shouldn’t be dismissed as a subpar symphonist. Boy I boy do I love Jarvi(s).

[@salt_cots]

The music critic of The Herald (Glasgow, Scotland), Michael Tumelty reviewed the Chandos CD set of Prokofiev symphonies when it was re-released, and he said something like (relying on my memory here): "All you young 'uns who doubted us oldies when we said we staggered out of the concert hall, stunned by Neeme Järvi's Prokofiev, need to listen to this set".

[@neilford99]

Tumelty (RIP) was a great critic. I always loved reading his columns. He was a huge Sokolov fan!

[@salt_cots]

@@neilford99 And, as I recall, a big fan of Strauss's Alpine Symphony! I loved his reviews: they just seemed so full of common sense and enthusiasm, not least for "Jimmy" MacMillan, in the promotion of whose music MT played a small role.

[@normanmeharry58]

Oops! I like the Martinon 6. It was on affordable vinyl wayback 70s when i was a starving student. I played it to death trying to get fellow students to see how great Prokie really was. Also, symphs 3 & 4 contain some of the most tender music in their slow movements i have ever heard in my long life. For me Prokofiev is a serious composer of symphony.

[@leestamm3187]

Järvi and the Scottish National made a bunch of great recordings together. This is a fine example.

[@neilford99]

It was a golden era for the orchestra. Bryden Thomson who succeded Jarvi was be very variable. The worst ever Beethoven 5th you could image, but exciting with Martinu and Nielson.

[@MusicologistJohn]

I am revisiting the Neeme Järvi/Chandos recordings now during my gym workouts and I just finished the Prokofiev symphony cycle *chef's kiss*

[@lowe7471]

I bought the Järvi boxed set based on your recommendation. A favorite of mine.

[@Warp75]

Me too. Great recommendation

[@steveevans6241]

As a work this symphony is hard to criticise in itself & is one of my serious heavyweight favourites of orchestral drama. Really good performances of this can be as devastating as Mahler's 6th or 9th. The symphony was also written around the same time as Vaughan Williams' similarly themed 6th - symphonic cousins separated by the iron curtain perhaps?Although some other recordings are good, Jarvi's is unique & still the best interpretation on disc by far.

[@Lamprocles221]

It isn't the Ashkenzy Cleveland that came out a few years after that (1992 or 93?) It did seem to get lost in the shuffle so maybe that is why it isn't in contention?

[@paullewis2413]

Absolutely love the 6th, overall I prefer it to the more popular 5th. Heard a rare live performance a couple of years ago at the RAM/London, The students clearly loved playing this score as it was a triumph. 😊

[@melodymaker135]

Don’t know if I prefer it to the Fifth but 5, 6, 7 are all great

[@allthisuselessbeauty-kr7]

Absolute, certifiable reference version. I got it on lp first and it sounded splendid (such a lovely, quiet pressing) knocked me sideways. As mention was made of the 3rd does it have a reference (for me I truly appreciated its greatness in Muti's Philadephia version - fantastic)?

[@dencairns2228]

Jarvi and the SNO blew all the competition to smithereens. Sergei Pro was the Master. (2nd Symp my fav imho) 😘

[@patrickgroenendijk8434]

Have you heard the new Welser-Möst / Cleveland recording of this work?

[@AlexMadorsky]

I wish it was available to stream somewhere other than Apple Music.

[@AlexMadorsky]

@@poturbg8698 thanks for the tip! Good to know.

[@michaelpaller3287]

I think it’s quite good. Heard them play the 2nd and the 5th at Carnegie Hall on January-a terrific concert.

[@hobhood7118]

@@AlexMadorsky it is available to stream on Presto Music - well the whole symphony set is.

[@TheDodgefan9]

I'm a Tidal user on Windows. I did a trial of Apple Music to check out this recording. Unfortunately, the app is just not good. It doesn't even support switching the output device on PC.