{"product_id":"608917258424","title":"James Gaffigan - Prokofiev: Symphonies 3 \u0026 4 (First Version) - Import SACD Hybrid","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJames Gaffigan\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGaffigan at his best.\nWho knew Prokofiev could be this rhythmic!\n\nSACD hybrid disc. James Gaffigan, a young American conductor who serves as principal conductor of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra while also garnering attention as a guest conductor with orchestras around the world, has taken on Prokofiev’s symphony.\nProkofiev’s Symphony No. 3 was composed in 1928 and draws on material from the opera *The Fiery Angel*. A work from his avant-garde period, when Prokofiev’s charm was at its peak, it is brimming with a radical energy and vitality reminiscent of today’s punk rock. His Symphony No. 4, composed two years later, was commissioned to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, alongside Stravinsky’s “Psalm Symphony,” Roussel’s Symphony No. 4, and Hindemith’s “Concert Music for Strings and Brass.” Although it draws on material from the ballet *The Prodigal Son*, its radicalism—unlike that of Symphony No. 3—is significantly toned down, giving it a simpler impression; it is said to have disappointed audiences who were expecting a “Prokofiev-style” work at the time. Consequently, after returning from the Soviet Union in 1947, he made extensive revisions, expanding the 25-minute piece into a 40-minute masterpiece and designating it Op. 112. While the revised version is more commonly performed today, the original version is far more refreshing, with a sparkle and conciseness reminiscent of Mozart.\nWhat first strikes one about Gaffigan’s performance is his lively sense of rhythm. This is precisely what Prokofiev’s music needs most, and it makes the work all the more captivating. With the emergence of a true Prokofiev conductor, we can’t wait to hear his interpretations of the composer’s other works.\nJames Gaffigan was born in 1979. Since winning the 2004 Solti International Conducting Competition, he has performed with the world’s leading orchestras. In 2011, he made his debut at the Vienna State Opera with *La Bohème*; he subsequently returned to conduct *Don Giovanni* and has also conducted at Glyndebourne, steadily making a name for himself in the world of opera.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Challenge Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53595589509409,"sku":"608917258424","price":3790.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/608917258424.jpg?v=1790481810","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/products\/608917258424","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}