Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko - Scriabin: Symphony No. 1, Op. 26; Prometheus-The Poem of Fire (2018)

With this final volume in their three-album series of the symphonies of Alexander Scriabin, Vasily Petrenko and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra present the Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 26, and Prometheus: The Poem of Fire, Scriabin's last completed orchestral work, sometimes referred to as the Symphony No. 5 in F sharp major, Op. 60. These works bookend the cycle, yet they are quite different in style and form. The six-movement Symphony No. 1 was completed in 1900, and inhabits the lush sound world of Wagner, so the languid melodies, constantly modulating harmonies, and rich orchestral sonorities suggest something of the fin de siècle nostalgia of late Romanticism. Prometheus, composed ten years later, is at the vanguard of early 20th century experimentation, and its dense textures and clouds of dissonances, based on the static "mystic chord" heard at the opening, anticipate the ecstatic washes of sound of Scriabin's unfinished apocalypse, Mysterium. Petrenko and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra turn in exceptional performances, and guest pianist Kirill Gerstein contributes a virtuoso solo part in Prometheus that brings physical excitement to the cosmic nebulousness of the work. Lawo Classics' studio recording is deep and detailed, and the wide audio range covers the full sweep of Scriabin's dynamics, from the softest opening of Prometheus to its explosive conclusion. Highly recommended.