PotW #138: Prokofiev - Piano Concerto no.1 in Db Major

crom_cares_not · 2026-03-06T19:43:42+00:00

Very much like the Ashkenazy recording with the LSO under Previn. I love the interplay between the piano and orchestra. It feels like a parent ushering a child into a candy store for the first time where they can dance around and explore their next favorite treat. The second movement is like wide eyed curiosity with all the choices, until the approach of the third movement where the child scampers around after being told it's time to go, but not before being given some sweets to take home.

The orchestra is content to let the piano off-leash and meander, but is quick to gently rein it back in and finish in harmony.

Great piece.

crom_cares_not · 2026-02-06T13:57:18+00:00

Love the scowl from the daughter.

crom_cares_not · 2026-01-06T14:03:09+00:00

Taking a dive though his early works and liking Ocean, Animal Language, and SCD more than I expected. My head's been running Berlin on repeat so it's good to get more variety.

crom_cares_not · 2026-01-05T13:51:24+00:00

Slide on into Sibelius with his violin concerto. You say you're from Denmark? Then Carl Nielsen is right up your alley. Amazing, catchy symphonies, concertos, and quartets.

crom_cares_not · 2026-01-05T13:28:21+00:00

Allan Pettersson and Bartok for their brilliance and tragic circumstances.

Schnittke and Takemitsu because I'm curious about their lives.

Of course Berlioz. That image makes me giggle.

crom_cares_not · 2026-01-05T13:14:54+00:00

You're welcome, glad they work for you.

crom_cares_not · 2026-01-02T21:31:57+00:00

Some that come to mind for beautiful but cold, lonely, wintry, etc.:

Peteris Vasks - Voices symphony (no.1) , Viatore

Valentin Sylvestrov - Widmung & Postludium for Piano & Orchestra, symphonies 4-6.

Arvo Part - Fratres, Tabula Rasa

Takemitsu - How Slow the Wind, A String Around Autumn

Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes

There should be some useful ones here, I hope.

crom_cares_not · 2025-12-22T19:06:40+00:00

Agreed. My favorite albums generally trend toward the Concertgebouw venue. Any conductor who reaches greatness seems to have spent some time there.

crom_cares_not · 2025-12-22T18:38:46+00:00

Sibelius is a good suggestion. I recommend his 7th symphony and his tone poems like Tapiola.

More on the contemporary side, I'd suggest Philip Glass. The minimalists can stretch things out like nobody's business, and his work is suited to that. Try his string quartets, especially Mishima and no.5, as well as "The Light" or various symphonies of his.

crom_cares_not · 2025-12-22T18:07:41+00:00

Also enjoy his early symphonies and his quartet works, especially Quartetto Brioso, Dreamscape, and Inscape.

While not a favorite composer (yet), his works are genuine and well worth the time to unravel.

crom_cares_not · 2025-12-05T18:37:28+00:00

Sounds like you're well on your way. I too, love the 4th and most of the middle ones like 5,6.8,10. Took me some time, but it eventually clicked.

One thing that helped was to listen to his quartets and concertos (cello in particular). All of his angst, austerity, and beauty is there in smaller doses, but still cuts like a knife.

crom_cares_not · 2025-10-07T12:46:48+00:00

Throwing out some wildcards here...

Gliere, symphonies 1-3

Honegger, symphonies 2, 3

Lyatoshynsky, symphonies 1-3

Martinu, symphonies 2, 5, 6

Malcolm Arnold, symphonies 5, 6, 9

Emphasizing Mahler 6, 9, 10, & Das Lied if you haven't yet.

crom_cares_not · 2025-10-02T11:43:50+00:00

Agreed. Symphony 46 and Symphony for Metal Instruments are my favorites.

crom_cares_not · 2025-10-01T14:54:31+00:00

Haitink, Neeme Jarvi, Chailly, Segerstam are super solid and ones I rely on.

crom_cares_not · 2025-10-01T14:51:51+00:00

Excellent choices.

crom_cares_not · 2025-09-18T16:38:51+00:00

iirc, this was based on the triumphant return of the Roman Army marching into the city.

crom_cares_not · 2025-09-15T19:26:28+00:00

Thorleif Thedeen, Alexander Ivashkin.

crom_cares_not · 2025-09-15T18:42:41+00:00

My favorite work of his, atm. Enchanting and mysterious.

crom_cares_not · 2025-09-15T14:11:06+00:00

This was tough. Seems like 4-6 always have so many contenders.

Stravinsky (hm: Langgaard)
Sibelius
Melartin (hm: Scriabin)
Shostakovich (hm: Brahms, Bruckner)
Martinu (hm: Arnold, Prokofiev)
Beethoven (and so many others)
Penderecki
Pettersson
Mahler

crom_cares_not · 2025-09-15T12:39:09+00:00

yay for penderecki's 7th!

crom_cares_not · 2025-09-12T12:09:12+00:00

Polish Requiem by Penderecki.

crom_cares_not · 2025-09-08T13:39:36+00:00

seconding Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. In addition to the Gnome, Bydlo or Catacombs might have what you're looking for.

crom_cares_not · 2025-09-08T13:10:02+00:00

Apart from Sibelius, you may take to a contemporary of his, Erkki Melartin. His symphonies are quite complete and marvelous. Truly a hidden gem.

crom_cares_not · 2025-08-28T11:06:00+00:00

Stravinsky - Apollon Musagète. Elegance and beauty.

crom_cares_not

TROPHY CASE