4: Joy and Despondency
Donald Macleod explores the later years of Prokofiev. Immediately afterthe Second World Warthe composerwas feted as the Soviet Union's premier composer, only to be denounced a couple of years later in a Stalinist witchhunt, with many of his works suddenly banned from public performance. However, he was able to take solace in his friendships with two great Russian musicians, pianist
Sviatoslav Richter and the young cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.
War and Peace (Act 1 Scene 1) Yelena Prokina (soprano), Svetlana Volkova
(mezzo), Alexander Gergalov (baritone),
Kirov Orchestra, conductor Valeri Gergiev Piano Sonata No 9, Op 103 Murray McLachlan
Departure (Winter Bonfire, Op 122) New London Orchestra, conductor Ronald Corp
Symphony-Concerto, Op 125 (3rd mvt) Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), LSO, conductor Seiji Ozawa