Prokofiev conceived his third symphony on the basis of his fascinating opera “The Fiery Angel”. Most parts of the opera as well as all its themes were used in the symphony, although Prokofiev completely re-arranged the material for the symphony. Despite these alterations the symphony is a uniform and integrated whole. The first performance took place 1929 in Paris.

Prokofiev characterised his sixth symphony as the musical reflection of a survivor on the losses sustained in the war. Prokofiev was quite satisfied with the finished composition and also the reviews after the first perfomance 1947 were very positive. But: The communist party changed its cultural regulations a few weeks later. As to music dissonant harmonies were once again frowned upon as being “formalistic” whereas before they had been interpreted as symbols of grief over the fatherland or as symbols of the heroic battle against the enemy. Works that had been enthusiastically received when premiered and therefore often been performed disappeared from concert programmes virtually overnight, among them also Prokofiev’s Sixth Symphony.

Pietari Inkinen is one of the shooting stars of the international conductor scene and one who is talked about a lot. His comprehensive experiences in opera and concert enable him to create a deep and haunting shaping of these symphonies. With his orchestra – Inkinen is Chief Conductor of the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie – he achieves superbly realised performances.