James Gaffigan, Netherlands RPO - Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7 (2016) [DSD128 + Hi-Res FLAC]

American born conductor James Gaffigan is the Chief Conductor of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, and the Principal Guest Conductor of the ensemble featured here, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. The natural ease of his conducting and his compelling insight have brought him attention internationally. This is the second release in James Gaffigan’s projected Prokofiev symphony cycle, a series that suddenly finds itself one among many. It has many fine qualities even if the poised, somewhat cautious music-making eschews Soviet-era rawness.

The Sixth is at once the greatest and the most ambiguous of Prokofiev’s seven essays in the form. None of the others operates on such a plane of harmonic complexity and thematic interdependence yet, at the same time, none so directly channels personal pain and political reality. Most conductors jump one way or the other. Less than squeaky-clean in a recently reissued performance captured some in Prague 20 years after the work’s premiere, Evgeny Mravinsky is hyper-intense, projecting disquiet and discontinuity. Gaffigan prefers soft-focus glowering, emphasising instead the music’s contemplative, philosophical aspect, at least until the closing stages of the finale. Here the return of the first movement’s plaintive chant-like theme prompts a real paroxysm of grief, audibly encouraged from the podium. The final bars are then taken at a canter as indicated in the score, although Mravinsky, Neeme Järvi, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Valery Gergiev, Kirill Karabits and others opt for a more emotionally authentic slow grinding of gears.

The Seventh used to be considered slight and sunny, an impression boosted by the happy ending Prokofiev tacked on to appease Stalin’s cultural bureaucrats. Gaffigan shuns that optimistic flourish but again seems reluctant to take interpretative risks, which perhaps explains why the second movement’s abrupt pay-off falls rather flat. Go to either Gergiev account and you’ll find a much broader canvas, albeit without the benefit of such sophisticated surround sound. Challenge Classics’ accompanying booklet is full of howlers but the fine detail, richly extended bass and realistically recessed sound stage may be attraction enough.

Tracklist:

01 - Symphony No. 6 in E-flat minor, Op. 111: I. Allegro moderato
02 - Symphony No. 6 in E-flat minor, Op. 111: II. Largo
03 - Symphony No. 6 in E-flat minor, Op. 111: III. Vivace
04 - Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131: I. Moderato
05 - Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131: II. Allegretto
06 - Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131: III. Andante espressivo
07 - Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131: IV. Vivace

Produced, Engineered, Edited & Mastered by Bert van der Wolf.
Recorded on June 8-10, 2015 (no.6) & October 29-31, 2012 (no.7) at Studio MCO 5, Hilversum, Holland.

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra - Conducted by James Gaffigan.


Thanks to the Original customer!