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I can’t think of a single work by Prokofiev that I don’t like.

Bill Dodd on July 26, 2024

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Welcome to ‘Dodd’s Discoveries’, a review series from NativeDSD Senior Music Reviewer Bill Dodd. This series focuses on Bill’s latest selections, with new reviews regularly. And the best part… the albums featured in the most current review will be available at a reduced price! Click the button below to see all of Dodd’s Discoveries and to find the current album(s) on sale.

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Everybody knows Prokofiev’s ballets, and his 5th Symphony.  I can’t think of a single work by Prokofiev that I don’t like.  

Well… there is an opera that takes some effort.  

The Firey Angel was commissioned in the early 1920s, but not performed in its entirety until after Prokofiev’s death.  There is (to my knowledge) only one complete recording of that opera, with Neeme Jarvi conducting.  As I said, it takes some effort.  In 1929 Prokofiev had a brilliant idea, he “reinvented” a lot of the music from the opera in his Symphony No. 3.  The result is outstanding.  It’s symphonic in structure, and it’s bold.  But it’s as accessible as his later ballets.  Noseda’s Prokofiev Symphony No.3 has become one of my favourites.  Big, flamboyant, but always involving. Sample the tracks and download the liner notes. The recording is first class!

Available now for 25% off!

Written by

Bill Dodd

Bill is Senior Music Reviewer at NativeDSD. He lives in the Portland, Oregon area. He is an avid photographer too! Along with his early interest in broadcasting and high fidelity audio, he was exposed to classical music in small doses from age 5, was given piano lessons from age 9— Starting with Bach and including Gershwin. Successful morning personality in San Francisco at age 22. (true). Sang in choirs in high school and college. Although the broadcasting experience was all in popular music, his personal listening has been mostly classical his whole life—along with others including Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Joni Mitchell, The Who, and Led Zeppelin.

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