Sergei Prokofiev wrote his Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major (Op. 100) in 1944.
Fourteen years had passed since Prokofiev's last symphony.
World War II was still raging during the symphony's gestation, and Prokofiev composed the symphony in a safe haven run by the Soviet Union.
The piece is in four movements, lasting 40-45 minutes:
The first movement embodies what Prokofiev envisioned as the glory of the human spirit. In a tightly argued sonata form...
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Sergei Prokofiev wrote his Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major (Op. 100) in 1944.
Fourteen years had passed since Prokofiev's last symphony.
World War II was still raging during the symphony's gestation, and Prokofiev composed the symphony in a safe haven run by the Soviet Union.
The piece is in four movements, lasting 40-45 minutes:
The first movement embodies what Prokofiev envisioned as the glory of the human spirit. In a tightly argued sonata form, there is an elaborate and climactic development of the two themes - one calm and sustained, the other soaring with tremolo accompaniment from strings - after the exposition section. It represents the pinnacle in Prokofiev's symphonic thought. The movement is wrapped up with an electrifying coda, punctuated by a roaring tam-tam and low piano tremolos.
The second movement is an insistent scherzo in Prokofiev's typical toccata mode, framing a central country dance in triple time. The third movement is a dreamy slow movement, full of nostalgia,...
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