A couple of months ago I heard the tail-end of Prokofiev's 5th on NPR but
they didn't say who performed it.  What a performance.

The 5th is one of those *been there, done that* pieces I loved in high
school and I have been quite happy since with my Slatkin/St Louis on RCA.
I'ts rare that I would want to replace such a title in my collection.

What set this radio performance apart was the wonderful detail in the coda
of the last mov't--especially being able to hear for the first time those
chattering muted trombones and trumpets.

To make a long story longer, I heard another riveting performance of this
piece a couple of days ago on the radio, this time from the beginning,
and I couldn't get over the irresistible personality of the solo and
concertante sections--esp.  from the clarinet, oboe, and cello.  Low and
behold, when the finale came I recognized those same chattering trombones!

Who was it?  Simon Rattle!

John Smyth