Prokofiev 5

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Image courtesy of L'Auditori

Symphony No. 5 is the most highly praised of the seven symphonies that Sergei Prokofiev wrote. This dramatic, epic work represented a dual comeback: on the one hand, it was the first symphony that he had written in 15 years after his No. 4 and, secondly, he was returning to the Soviet Union after living in the United States. Following its premiere in Moscow at a key moment in Soviet history, it was seen as a musical testimony to Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany. According to Sviatoslav Richter, “When Prokofiev climbed onto the podium and silence fell in the concert hall, a gun salute suddenly sounded. He waited and started once the firing had stopped.”

Mozart and Saint-Saëns are the two influences that Maurice Ravel mentioned in reference to his Piano Concerto in G major. In it, he modified the orchestral presence in order to surround the piano, displaying high technical skills in terms of the percussion and melody, with the creation of a spellbinding atmosphere. We witness a mix of influences, from jazz to classical forms, in one of the most inspired piano concertos from the 20th century.  

Subito con forza is a recent creation by Unsuk Chin, a Korean composer who has been singled out to receive numerous distinctions and who has collaborated with conductors of international acclaim. A short piece built on intertextuality, it is inspired by the composer’s personal reading of Beethoven and, indeed, it opens with a reference to his Coriolan Overture.

Program

• Unsuk Chin: Subito con forza (2020) 5′—National Premiere
• Maurice Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major (1929-1931) 23′
• Serguei Prokófiev: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100 (1944) 42′

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