Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra - Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7, Op. 131 - Myaskovsky: Sinfonietta, Op. 68, No. 2 (2025)

On their last recording for Lawo Classics, the Oslo Philharmonic under the baton of Vasily Petrenko were described by The Guardian as 'an orchestra in fine form, with classy wind soloists and big-toned strings', so it was only natural that they should join forces again in this new recording of Prokofiev's 7th Symphony coupled with Myaskovsky's Sinfonietta, Op. 68 No. 2.

Prokofiev completed his seventh and final symphony in 1952, not long before his death the following year. His original plan was to compose a symphony for young people, specifically for the children's programmes of the Soviet State Radio, but the music outgrew this idea, evolving into a work of more stature.

Myaskovsky's Sinfonietta in A minor for string orchestra, Opus 68 No 2 dates from 1945-6. This four-movement work exemplifies the rather less serious side of Myaskovsky's temperament, mentioned above. Several times in the mid-1940's Myaskovsky reworked previous material into new works, such as the fourth and fifth piano sonatas and the string quartets Nos. 10 and 11.

In 1946 he again turned to earlier works in composing his Sinfonietta in A minor, in particular his four sketches (or Frolics) for piano from 1907: Petite gavotte, Plein-air, Quasi rigaudon and Fughetta, and an Epilogue from 1912. He added brief introductory material to the Fughetta to create the Sinfonietta's first movement, placed the Gavotte and Plein-air second and third respectively, then reworked the Epilogue to form the finale. In the summer of 1946 Myaskovsky scored the work for string orchestra.

Recorded in Oslo Concert Hall in 2024, this recording is a welcome addition to the catalogue under these mighty forces.