> Replying to myself: Two more fine Muti/Philadelphia recordings: > Pictures at an Exhibition, Rite of Spring. I like Muti/Philadelphia recording of Prokofiev's 5th symphony (Philips 135145), and when Muti's name comes up among certain Prokofiev fans online, this is often a recording that is mentioned enthusiastically. There are some who rate Muti's 5th very high among all recordings of that symphony (of which there are many). But what I like most about that recording is its CD-mate, the "festive overture" called "The Meeting of the Volga and the Don" op. 130. I'd say the latter is pretty far "off the beaten path" in that there is only one other recording that I know of, the other being by Ashkenazy with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic (on Exton, coupled with, among other interesting things, "Seven, They Are Seven"). Perhaps I'd be less fond of Muti's recording of this piece if there were more recordings from which to choose. But that will never happen, as nobody is beating a path to works commissioned by the former Soviet state for the opening of canals. Still, I think (now wandering off the beaten path of the original topic) that this piece absolutely rocks. It does help to have an open, sympathetic attitude to it, and to give it several listens. I didn't care for it at first, but on several occasions I forgot to "lift the needle" after the 5th symphony had finished playing. It got under my skin and I found myself humming it quite often. Not that this is a good sign, as I will hum any damned thing that I hear a few times. But this I liked, and still do, very much (as much as any movement of the 5th symphony itself; for me it has become something of a fifth movement to that symphony!). Here is a sympathetic "overture" that might compel one to give it a listen, in a bit of an interview with Rostropovich, who is speaking of Prokofiev, with whom Rostropovich was living during the composer's final years: '... I saw how poor he became. He had no money at all and one day he said, "Slava, I have no more money for breakfast." I was shocked, so I went to the Union of Composers and spoke with Mr. Khrennikov, the President. I told him, "Prokofiev has no money for food. Maybe the Union can give him a little bit of money? If not I will go to the Conservatorium and see if I can ask some students for some rubles." Khrennikov gave to me a sum of $50, in rubles of course, and I gave this to Prokofiev. 'After that, a composer who had a powerful position at the Soviet radio network, the great conductor Samuel Samosud, and I had a secret meeting to discuss how we could try and help Prokofiev. The composer had a stroke of genius: "If Prokofiev were to compose something connected with Stalin I may be able to arrange a commission." So we all conceived an idea that Prokofiev could compose an overture called "The Meeting of the Volga and the Don." Stalin had an idea to build a canal between the two big rivers, the Volga and the Don, and we thought that this could make an opportunity for Prokofiev to earn something at last by writing a celebratory work. So I took the idea to Prokofiev, and I was so happy to tell him. Prokofiev said, "such a stupid idea!" You know, I was very near to crying. "Why are you so distressed?" Prokofiev asked me. I said, "There are thousands of bulldozers there and they are all plowing up the ground!" "Oh - well, maybe that's not such a bad idea after all," he said, and he composed this overture! So he had his first money for food.' http://www.andante.com/article/article.cfm?id=3D16209 Rick Mabry Shreveport, LA *********************************************** The CLASSICAL mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's HDMail High Deliverability Mailer for reliable, lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html