Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 (Classical); Symphony No. 5
Published:
COMPOSERS: Prokofiev
LABELS: DG Galleria
WORKS: Symphony No. 1 (Classical); Symphony No. 5
PERFORMER: Berlin PO/Herbert von Karajan
CATALOGUE NO: 437 253-2 DDD/ADD (1982/69)
This is a welcome return to the catalogue of Karajan’s classic account of Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5, here in a faithful transfer of a rich analogue recording from 1969. The less successful, somewhat heavy-handed Classical Symphony with which it is coupled comes from the early digital era (1982), when Karajan and his producers favoured a dense, claustrophobic recorded sound that fails to provide the right bloom for his fine orchestra. Matthew Rye