The Dutch composer, music journalist and novelist Elmer Schonberger once described the Second Symphony as a sub-genre of a primarily psychological nature, albeit with considerable stylistic consequences: in a first symphony, a composer will more or less reflect the traditions from which he comes, and in a second he will deliberately break away from them. Prokofiev's Second, composed eight years after the First, appears to be a defiant ode to the modern era, witnessed by the layers of mechanically persistent rhythms, expressionist harmonies, ostensibly unfathomable forms and it's very expansive take on tonality. The work was premiered in Paris in 1925, conducted by Serge Koussevitsky. Prokofiev decided to revise his Fourth Symphony, Op. 47, after the successful premieres of his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies. The original four movements remained largely intact, but the changes say a great deal about his style at that point. The first alteration was to insert or expand some passages that were predominantly reflective, with a strong emphasis on melody. Another example is the attempt to align the scale more closely with what was required by Social Realism, in which the neo-classical is overlaid with a considerable dose of heroism and sometimes even bombast. The association of Op. 112 with Social Realism subsequently proved to be an obstacle to it's acceptance in the West. Once again, James Gaffigan interprets these works with incredible candor and dazzling aplomb.

Tracklist:

Symphony No. 2, Op. 40 In D Minor: I. Allegro Ben Articolato
Symphony No. 2, Op. 40 In D Minor: II. Theme. Andante
Symphony No. 2, Op. 40 In D Minor: II. Variation 1. L’istesso Tempo
Symphony No. 2, Op. 40 In D Minor: II. Variation 2. Allegro Non Troppo
Symphony No. 2, Op. 40 In D Minor: II. Variation 3. Allegro
Symphony No. 2, Op. 40 In D Minor: II. Variation 4. Larghetto
Symphony No. 2, Op. 40 In D Minor: II. Variation 5. Allegro Con Brio
Symphony No. 2, Op. 40 In D Minor: II. Variation 6. Allegro Moderato
Symphony No. 2, Op. 40 In D Minor: II. Theme
Symphony No. 4 (Second Version), Op. 112 In C Major: I. Andante - Allegro Eroico
Symphony No. 4 (Second Version), Op. 112 In C Major: II. Andante Tranquillo
Symphony No. 4 (Second Version), Op. 112 In C Major: III. Moderato, Quasi Allegretto
Symphony No. 4 (Second Version), Op. 112 In C Major: IV. Allegro Risoluto

UPC: 608917277920
Label: Challenge Classics
Release Date: 4.13.18
Format: CD

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra - Symphonies 2 & 4 (CD)