Prokofiev: Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution; The Stone Flower [Excerpts]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Prokofiev's cantata is a scream, literally. Obviously no one cares about the occasion for which it was written--and, in fact, the music proved so complicated that it wasn't performed until 1966, 13 years after the composer's death. Scored for huge orchestra, choruses, a folk band of manic accordion players, extra brass, and the shouting-amplified "voice of Lenin" (here intoned with impressive volume by conductor Gennadi Rozhdestvensky), the piece makes the most ear-splitting din imaginable. It's very hard to tell whether Prokofiev was serious or not, but the fact remains that it's a riot to listen to now--a period piece in the best sense. This performance wrings every last decibel out of the composition, and you'd be crazy to ask for more! --David Hurwitz

Prokofiev: Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution; The Stone Flower [Excerpts], Music, Sergey Prokofiev, Neeme Järvi, Accordion Band, Philharmonia Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra of London, 20th/21st Century Ballet, Ballet, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Secular Choral Music

Prokofiev: Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution; The Stone Flower [Excerpts]
Average customer rating:

Shockingly Awesome Cantata!

Awe-Inspiring

Lousy Propaganda, Super Choral Music from Prokofiev

wacky fun from Sergei Sergeyevich

Not Satire Sorry

Prokofiev: Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution; The Stone Flower [Excerpts]

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sergey Prokofiev: The Prodigal Son, Op. 46, Ballet in Three Scenes by Boris Kochno / Divertimento, Op. 43 / Andante, from Piano Sonata No. 4, Op. 29 bis (Transcription by the Composer for Orchestra) / Symphonic Song, Op. 57 - Neeme Järvi

Prokofiev: The Complete Symphonies

ASIN: B000000AQ6
Release Date: 1994-02-10

Tracks:

Cantana For The 20th Anniversary Of The October Revolution Op. 74: I Prelude
Cantana For The 20th Anniversary Of The October Revolution Op. 74: II The Philosophers
Cantana For The 20th Anniversary Of The October Revolution Op. 74: III Interlude
Cantana For The 20th Anniversary Of The October Revolution Op. 74: IV 'A Tight Little Band'
Cantana For The 20th Anniversary Of The October Revolution Op. 74: V Interlude
Cantana For The 20th Anniversary Of The October Revolution Op. 74: VI Revolution
Cantana For The 20th Anniversary Of The October Revolution Op. 74: VII Victory
Cantana For The 20th Anniversary Of The October Revolution Op. 74: VIII The Oath
Cantana For The 20th Anniversary Of The October Revolution Op. 74: IX Symphony
Cantana For The 20th Anniversary Of The October Revolution: X The Constitution
Excerpts From 'The Tale Of The Stone Flower' Op. 118: Ural Rhapsody
Excerpts From 'The Tale Of The Stone Flower' Op. 118: Katerina Sits By The Fire (Act IV No. 39)
Excerpts From 'The Tale Of The Stone Flower' Op. 118: Scene And Dance Of Katerina (Act IV No. 40)
Excerpts From 'The Tale Of The Stone Flower' Op. 118: Russian Dance (Act III No. 31)
Excerpts From 'The Tale Of The Stone Flower' Op. 118: Gypsy Dance (Act III No. 32)
Excerpts From 'The Tale Of The Stone Flower' Op. 118: Severyan's Dance (Act III No. 33)
Excerpts From 'The Tale Of The Stone Flower' Op. 118: Solo Of The Gypsy Girl And Coda (Act III No. 34)

Amazon.com essential recording

Prokofiev's cantata is a scream, literally. Obviously no one cares about the occasion for which it was written--and, in fact, the music proved so complicated that it wasn't performed until 1966, 13 years after the composer's death. Scored for huge orchestra, choruses, a folk band of manic accordion players, extra brass, and the shouting-amplified "voice of Lenin" (here intoned with impressive volume by conductor Gennadi Rozhdestvensky), the piece makes the most ear-splitting din imaginable. It's very hard to tell whether Prokofiev was serious or not, but the fact remains that it's a riot to listen to now--a period piece in the best sense. This performance wrings every last decibel out of the composition, and you'd be crazy to ask for more! --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Shockingly Awesome Cantata!.......2006-09-09

Sergei Prokofiev delivers one of the wildest, most bizarre and inventive works in his entire output. After the violent, abrasive opening of this Cantata, the music turns more lyrical with the chorus ushering in much beauty of sound. It is a hallmark of this work and Prokofiev's music in general that he mixes such high-lyricism with such turbulent, brutal harmonic invention. The absolute highlight of the entire piece is obviously track 6, the depiction of the Russian Revolution. Here is a taste of what it sounds like, a massive choir and an outsized orchestra comprising quadruple woodwinds, eight horns, four trumpets, four trombones, two tubas, timpani, percussion, harps, keyboards and numerous strings. In addition, Prokofiev utilizes an accordion orchestra at specific moments, an extra brass group, a percussion ensemble with alarm-bells, cannon-shot and even police riot sirens! There is even a great moment during the madness where a speaker, ( Gennadi Rozhdestvensky on this recording ), has to make an announcement through a megaphone, speaking the words of Lenin himself!

As far as the political ramifications of this piece, are they even relevant? I refuse to put this outstanding work into some silly historical pigeonhole. Why do that, instead of enjoying the glorious pandemonium Prokofiev unveils in this music? It could be part satire, it could be part ideology, but it is mostly brilliant music and something that any serious classical music fan has to experience.

Neemi Jarvi thankfully puts on a blistering performance with gigantic forces at his disposal. Chandos comes through with enormous, stunning digital sound. This is the only complete recording of the "Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution" available. It's a major accomplishment. You also get excerpts from The Stone Flower ballet, mostly lyrical dances. Regardless, you're purchasing this for the Cantata remember, so waste no more time, this is a breathtaking piece of music.

Awe-Inspiring.......2006-02-22

This is true agit-music, something that puts one in the mood for establishing a proletarian dictatorship. The first sheer tracks are sheer excitement, the Victory touching, and the Symphony energetic. Interestingly I found Stalin's a bit boring, as if Stalin's idiocy brought down Prokofiev's genius. Nevertheless, this is still a supreme work, Prokofiev at his most bombastic.

The excerpts from The Stone Flower are somewhat superfluous, and with the exception of the Ural Rhapsody I wonder why they chose this segment of the ballet. Still, it makes interesting comparison with Noseda's more rhythmic and less lyrical Stone Flower recording.

Lousy Propaganda, Super Choral Music from Prokofiev.......2004-03-03

Yes, this is an indispensable recording for lovers of Prokofiev. The Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution, which Prokofiev showed to his colleague Myaskovsky and others with negative results, was presumably shelved by the composer because he didn't want to end up in a gulag, and no Soviet composer in the wake of the adverse official reaction to Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth knew exactly what would land him there. While Myaskovksy et al. had reservations, and may even have seen the work as a one-way ticket to Siberia for Prokofiev if he should release it, does this mean the work is a satire of Communist propaganda, and Prokofiev's colleagues knew it? Well, just listen to the work! It is clearly a serious, heartfelt, politically naïve paean by what the note writer for this CD calls "at heart a naïf, an idealist."

No, I think what Myaskovsky objected to was the stark modernism that Prokofiev managed to weave into the huge tapestry of his score. Because the austere Prelude is echt Prokofiev, with those grating, advanced harmonies that would have set Stalin's teeth on edge if he had ever heard the score. It reminds me of that icy music that precedes the great Battle on the Ice from Alexander Nevsky. Woven amidst the de rigueur bombast of this score, too, are the sweeping Prokofiev melodies that Myaskovksy, or any other composer Soviet or other, would be envious of. But then the bombast--how artfully Prokofiev handles it! In his hands the political sentiment here sounds like deep philosophical thinking deserving of the best musical garb. Only a great composer could make us believe this libretto--at least musically. Over the top this music clearly is: Just wait till you get to the Revolution section! But it is also argued with the soundness of the great musical mind that Prokofiev was. If you like Nevsky, the Sixth Symphony, and (I'm guessing) War and Peace (though I'm not all that familiar with the work), then you will definitely find the Cantata worth your time. Because this work looks forward to all of them.

The CD also includes probably all of the Stone Flower ballet you'll need in your collection. When you listen to the Ural Rhapsody that begins these excerpts, you may think that Prokofiev saw Khatchaturian as having concocted the right formula for Soviet musical expression; it has some of the same raw energy and oriental sinuousness of the Gayne ballet score. But then we move on to Katerina Sits by the Fire, and here are the languid, long-breathed Prokofiev melody and the girlish, scampering pre-ball music the composer penned for his Cinderella, replete with those signature percussion accents from xylophone and glockenspiel. Truth to tell, though, the Stone Flower is not top-drawer Prokofiev, and it has only echoes of the greatness of Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella, though there is something to be said for the rough-hewn folksiness of the Gypsy Dance and Severyan's Dance. Best of all is the Gypsy Girl's Solo Dance, which recalls the steel-spring scherzo of the Fifth Symphony. But much of the suavity and wit are gone in this 1948 ballet, and I imagine that like me, you'll miss them.

Still, given the excellent performance and beautifully detailed but airy recording--in Chandos' best fashion--the ballet music is very welcome. Especially in company with that knockout Cantata!

wacky fun from Sergei Sergeyevich.......2003-07-17

Who gives a hoot if it be satire or not? It definitely has a sense of humour running throughout, and actually does manage to take itself seriously during "Revolution", "Symphyony" and "The Constitution". Probably one of the most important choral pieces to come out of Soviet Russia!

Not Satire Sorry.......2001-10-02

This is a pure musical expression of revolution from beginning to end. I hate the revisionists who go back and claim the works of Prokofiev and Shostakovich and others who worked under communism are really satire and ant-communist. Is Copeland's work satire and anti-American - of course not. Of course, there are not complete presentations of this - this is revolutionary music in more ways then one; and a true joy for lovers of modern powerful original music. It is a masterwork!

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