Prokofiev - Symphony No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40

Prokofiev - Symphony No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40

On the occasion of Sergei Prokofiev’s 125th anniversary, Valery Gergiev leads the Mariinsky Orchestra in a performance of the composer’s Symphony No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40. The work’s premiere in Paris in June 1925 was not a success, causing some serious doubts for the composer. It remains one of his least performed works. Based on the structure of Ludwig van Beethoven’s final piano sonata, the symphony consists of two movements: a stormy opening movement in minor key, followed by a set of variations on a theme. In the second movement, the serene theme is introduced by the first oboe, and then played by the first violins. This is followed by six variations, and a peaceful restatement of the initial theme at the end. This performance was recorded at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, Russia, in April 2016.