Yuri Temirkanov makes Prokofiev’s well-worn Classical Symphony sound invitingly fresh through his swift tempos and painstaking observance of rhythm, accent, and dynamic contrast. The outer movements proceed with a breezy playfulness, while the larghetto and gavotte exude 18th-century elegance. The Lieutenant Kijé Suite is similarly accomplished as Temirkanov evokes the work’s contrasting moods while nicely capturing its folk atmosphere, especially in the Troika.
Temirkanov doesn’t really break any new ground in the Fifth Symphony, but his rendition nonetheless is impressive for its flowing tempos and sense of drama, especially at the close of the first movement with its phalanx of brass and percussion. Temirkanov uncovers some of the score’s inner details, such as the usually inaudible piano part in the first and third movements. But the real star here is the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, whose bold brass, lively winds, and sumptuous strings (in the Adagio especially) make this one of the better versions on disc. With such fine performances, it’s unfortunate that RCA’s acoustically dry recording drains the sound of warmth, while the low levels require you to crank up the volume–but then, watch out for those big climaxes in the symphony!
