Sergej Prokofjew - Sinfonie Nr. 5 B-Dur op. 100 | Cristian Măcelaru | WDR Sinfonieorchester

Sergei Prokofiev's "Symphony No. 5 in B flat major op. 100", played by the WDR Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Cristian Măcelaru. Recorded live on 10.02.2023 at the Kölner Philharmonie.
Sergei Prokofiev - Symphony No. 5 in B flat major op. 100
00:00:00 I. Andante
00:14:03 II. Allegro marcato
00:23:15 III. adagio
00:37:36 IV. Allegro giocoso
WDR Symphony Orchestra
Cristian Măcelaru, conductor
In his series "Short and Classic", chief conductor Cristian Măcelaru talks about Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony: • Sergej Prokofjew: Sinf...
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Work introduction:
Moscow, June 1944. In the midst of the Second World War, hunger and housing shortages prevail in the capital of the Soviet Union. Sergei Prokofiev and his wife live in a room in the Hotel Moskva, not far from Red Square. But here, too, conditions are anything but ideal. Composing is out of the question. Then he is relieved by an invitation to spend the summer in the house of the composers' association in Ivanovo. On the outskirts of the town, 250 kilometres north of Moscow, there are vast forests and lots of nature. Prokofiev takes long walks and feels reminded of his childhood, which he spent on a country estate. He knows that a heroic work is expected of him in those times of war. In Ivanovo, he does indeed compose a representative symphony, but one that clearly transcends the circumstances of the time. Similar to Bartók in his 2nd Violin Concerto, Prokofiev also synthesises his previous work in his Fifth. His First and also the Fourth strike neo-classical notes, while the Second and the Third come across as rather wild, dissonant, even partly raw. Now, in the Fifth, the style is moderate, and the music develops with great epic arcs.
The composition is completed after only two months, so that on 26 August Prokofiev calls together the composer colleagues who are also staying in Ivanovo, including Dmitri Shostakovich. Prokofiev plays the new work for them on the piano. Dmitri Kabalevsky recalls: "The symphony left a strong impression on all of us, and we made no secret of our enthusiasm. Prokofiev was very satisfied - after all, he always considered this opus to be one of his best works." In early 1945, the composer himself conducted the premiere. When he has already raised the baton, cannon salvos suddenly sound into the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, proclaiming the Soviet victory on the Vistula - a historical connotation full of ambivalence.
Text: Otto Hagedorn

[@davidpanton3192]

I've always loved the circus-like finale, almost as if the symphony is sending itself up.

[@lowe7471]

Great, great, great performance. Audio/visual always great here as well. Thank you for sharing this.

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! 🤗

[@christhornley1664]

Prokofiev's lofty, lyrical Fifth Symphony. A very spirited performance of this mighty symphony. Bravo!

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you!
We're happy that you like our performance 😊

[@enesberkel]

This Symphony has a special part of my heart. This symphony like a "Two crazy lovers dancing"

[@WDRKlassik]

🤗

[@TheStockwell]

Thanks to WDR Klassik, I now have a new way to spell Prokofief/Prokofiev/Prokofieff/Plokoffeiv/Protokobleb/Proto-plasmieff, Photographmeiv, etc. 😸

[@WDRKlassik]

Prokofjew is the German spelling of his name 😄

[@TheStockwell]

@@WDRKlassik A serious question for you amazing people: how do you *pronounce* his name? 🤔 Best wishes from Vermont 🍁

[@WDRKlassik]

The pronounciation of his surname in IPA (the International Phonetic Alphabet) looks like this: [prɐˈkofʲjɪf]. We hope, that helps you to pronounce it correctly :)
Best regards from Cologne 🤗

[@Drstolzman]

Don't forget 'Purokopiepu' in Korean :)

[@Chiiyna]

46:35 😮

[@pibbles-a-plenty1105]

Prokofiev's no. 5 is one of my most favorite symphonies - always a joy to hear. Performed here exquisitely by the WDR SO and beautifully presented by the WDR RUclips channel with always excellent videography and stellar sound quality. Bravo!

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you very much!
We're glad that you like our performance 🤗

[@tedwilks]

Wonderful performance as always; thank you for the upload. However, the text states: "Recorded live on 10.20.2023 at the Kölner Philharmonie." This is clearly incorrect; 10.2.2023 perhaps, or maybe 10-20-2022?

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you! 🤗
The text reads: " 10.02.2023", so the 10th of February in 2023 😊

[@tedwilks]

@@WDRKlassik Thank you!

[@johannbrandstatter7419]

@@WDRKlassik Not quite - the text still reads : Recorded live on 10.20.2023 - see above

[@WDRKlassik]

Thanks everyone, in the translation it was still incorrect.

[@MV-oj6ey]

Curious how many times had you tried to listen, until you feeling comfortable with this music?
For me I think it was at least 20 times, and the first few attempts were really not enjoyable. But now I love it.

[@WDRKlassik]

Glad that you like it now! Greetings

[@jgrab1]

Ain't bad.

[@WDRKlassik]

Thank you 😊

[@Discovery_and_Change]

1:40 slight military | 3:52 slight wedding | 9:18 light military | 10:48 slight wedding | 12:22 final light military
14:04 2nd movement (no action) | 23:17 3rd movement | 26:32 spooky string | 29:55 quiet build up | 31:48 military
31:58 fall sound effect | 34:27 spooky string | 37:37 4th movement |

[@mamemimomunt]

ESO ES CUÁNTICA TIRAR M+A↔ D LUZ
Y QUEDARSE A ATRAPAR

[@bigcedock]

Banish the Fifth, at least for a while, the Prokofiev 6th is, at least, not so overworked, and perhaps even a better piece altogether, just saying 😊

[@user-bw7zc5kc5e]

For what? Symphony 5 is Prokofiev's best symphony

[@gabrelconner9146]

6th is lovely…but not better…☺️