Symphony No. 4 (Prokofiev)
The Symphony No. 4 in C major by Sergei Prokofiev exists in two quite distinct versions.
The original version was composed in 1929-30. Written on a commission from the Boston Symphony Orchestra for their 50th anniversary, it was premiered by them in Boston conducted by Serge Koussevitzky on November 14, 1930. This original version was given the opus number 47.
Prokofiev extensively revised the symphony in 1947 immediately after completing his Symphony No. 6. Some ideas in the original version were abandoned, while the remaining ones were developed in a mature symphonic style. The orchestration was also much expanded. Prokofiev considered this to be a new symphony rather than a mere revision. This revised version has the opus number 112.
Just as the Symphony No. 3 had been based on music from Prokofiev's opera The Fiery Angel, the fourth re-uses music from his ballet The Prodigal Son.
Orchestration
Revised version: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, Cor Anglais, E-flat Clarinet, 2 B-flat Clarinets, Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoons, Contrabassoon, 3 Trumpets, 4 French Horns, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion (triangle, wood block, tambourine, snare drum, bass drum, and cymbals), Harp, Piano, and Strings (1st and 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos and Double Basses).
The E-flat clarinet, harp, and piano were not utilized in the original version.
Movements
As is usual for symphonies, the piece is in four movements:
Performance time
- Original version (Op. 47): 25 minutes
- Revised version (Op. 112): 40 minutes
Premiere
- Original version (Op. 47):
- Revised version (Op. 112):
Recordings
Original version (Op. 47)
| Orchestra | Conductor | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish National Orchestra | Neeme Järvi | Chandos Records | 1985 | CD |
| ORTF National Orchestra ORTF | Jean Martinon | VoxBox | ? | CD |
| Orchestre National de France | Mstislav Rostropovich | Erato | ? | CD |
Revised version (Op. 112)
| Orchestra | Conductor | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish National Orchestra | Neeme Järvi | Chandos Records | 1985 | CD |
| London Symphony Orchestra | Valery Gergiev | Philips | 2004 | CD |
| London Symphony Orchestra | Walter Weller | Decca | ? | CD |
| National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine | Theodore Kuchar | Naxos | 1995 | CD |
| USSR Radio/TV Large Symphony Orchestra | Gennadi Rozhdestvensky | Melodiya | ? | CD/LP |
| Orchestre National de France | Mstislav Rostropovich | Erato | ? | CD |
| Malmo Symphony Orchestra | James dePreist | BIS | ? | CD |
| Czech Philharmonic Orchestra | Zdenek Kosler | Supraphon | ? | CD/LP |
| Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | Seiji Ozawa | Deutsche Grammophon | ? | CD |