Review of Gianandrea Noseda – Prokofiev: Third Symphony

In his Third Symphony, written in France in 1928, Sergei Prokofiev showed himself as an uncompromising modernist, radical in expression, flamboyant and extremely nervous, with sharp features. This rough, roughly half-hour piece was recorded as a digital EP during two concerts with Gianandrea Noseda and the London Symphony Orchestra at London's Barbican Hall. In the first movement, the starting force quickly wanes, it seems somewhat aimless, the variation is very faltering, and it seems short of breath. Brass and trumpets initially have difficulties with intonation. Even the second sentence, Emotional Oasis, doesn't really click. It is as if the orchestra comes to its senses only through the nervous centrifugal forces of the scherzo. Here the disparate elements suddenly come together. This also applies to the ending combined with its evocation of great tragedy.

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, op. 44

London Symphony Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)
LSO Live