MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Prokofiev: Complete Concertos

"Laszlo Varga gives a fine account of the Sinfonia Concertante that Prokofiev wrote for Rostropovich towards the end of his life, basing it on the same material as his earlier Cello Concerto, on which it is not, I think, an improvement. Varga plays with conviction and power (and, when called for, restraint), while the Radio Luxembourg Orchestra though not the equal of the Royal Philharmonic with whom Rostropovich recorded the work in the late 1950s, give him lively support. There are times when one feels the need for greater mystery (the descending counter-theme at fig. 6), and the RPO undoubtedly produce more refined tone quality in all departments. But there is no lack of grip here and the second movement is splendidly vital alai crisp. The makeweight here is Prokoficv's First Piano Concerto expertly played by Gabriel Tacchino. Those who know Tacchino's earlier Prokofiev coupling of the Second and Third concertos made with the same forces (Vox STGBY675, 12/74) will know roughly what to expect. The orchestral playing is not quite so polished as in the Sinfonia Concertante. This still remains a competitive issue and readers wanting this particular coupling could do worse than consider it." Gramophone