Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 & Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1 with Midori

Svetlanov uses the established form of a folk-song theme with variations, practiced by many generations of Russian composers such as Mikhail Glinka, Balakirev, and Tchaikovsky. Svetlanov paints a colorful orchestral scene of dawn in summertime in the Russian countryside.

This is seemingly effortless and remarkably direct music, transparent and light, free of literary, visual, or ideological baggage. The concerto’s predominantly lyrical and romantic mood is unusual for Prokofiev, already associated with the dissonant and aggressive style of his early piano pieces.