Pressed at Pallas on 180-gram vinyl

Reissued Decca SXL from Speakers Corner. Prokofiev's miniature, the "Classical Symphony," combines several superlatives as regards both its musical notes and form: It is only 15 minutes long, contains a wealth of melodic ideas, and is the most performed of all Prokofiev's symphonies.

This four-movement composition employs traditional forms such as the sonata form in the outer movements and the pre-Classical dances menuet and gavotte. The work's carefree esprit, serenade-like humor, and courtly elegance is delightful throughout and culminates in a high-spirited sturm und drang finale.

On the B side is Glinka's "Kamarinskaya Fantasy," only eight minutes long but captivating with its extremely closely-knit compositional style, and his overture to "A Life for the Czar," a showpiece whose leitmotifs are truly forward-looking. Alongside these classical-romantic musical gems, Borodin's "In The Steppes of Central Asia" acts as an ideal programmatic amalgamation of the Orient and the Occident, and fits perfectly into this choice of repertoire.

Track Listing
1. Side 1
2. Prokofiev
3. “Classical Symphony” in D major, op. 25
4. 1st mov. Allegro
5. 2nd mov. Larghetto
6. 3rd mov. Gavotte –Non troppo allegro
7. 4th mov. Finale – Molto vivace
8. “The Love of Three Oranges”

Side 2
9. Glinka
10. Kamarinskaia – Fantasy
11. Borodin
12. In The Steppes of Central Asia
13. Glinka
14. A Life For The Czar (Ivan Susanin) - Overture