COMPOSERS: Shostakovich/Prokofiev
LABELS: Sony
WORKS: Symphony No. 5 in D minor; Polka from The Age of Gold Suite; The Love for Three Oranges Suite
PERFORMER: Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy
CATALOGUE NO: SBK 53261 ADD(1964/67/69)
Few orchestras can offer such an immaculately turned out performance of Shostakovich’s Fifth as the Philadelphians. Unfortunately Ormandy rarely penetrates beneath the bitter and ironic subtext of the music, and the overall effect remains bland and uninvolving. Not surprisingly, Prokofiev’s brilliant yet unambiguous showpiece sounds far more convincing in his hands. Erik Levi
Shostakovich/Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in D minor; Polka from The Age of Gold Suite; The Love for Three Oranges Suite
Few orchestras can offer such an immaculately turned out performance of Shostakovich’s Fifth as the Philadelphians. Unfortunately Ormandy rarely penetrates beneath the bitter and ironic subtext of the music, and the overall effect remains bland and uninvolving. Not surprisingly, Prokofiev’s brilliant yet unambiguous showpiece sounds far more convincing in his hands. Erik Levi
Our rating
2
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:32 pm
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