#120 The Smell of Walking with Child

Child goes first: happy, jumping, running forward, turning, acting like a soldier, like a fairy, like a lion tamer. You're walking with a hero, trying to understand where the energy and fantasy comes from.

Mullova plays boldly, accenting the dancing rhythm. The sound harmony between her and the orchestra is exemplary.

Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Work: Violin Concerto No 2, III. Allegro, ben marcato
Recording: Viktoria Mullova, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, André Previn

#76 The Smell of Hunt

Listen carefully: The pianist has no time to breathe in this scherzo. There's always note after note, no respite, just gasping. Don't stop! They'll catch you, kill you, eat you.

The orchestra sounds at ease. The players know the pianist cannot run forever. They dance around him, slowing down a bit just because they know they can go faster if they want. And then, they're getting tired of the hide and seek. It is time: They kill him with one chord.

Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Work: Piano Concerto No 2, II. Scherzo: Vivace
Recording: John Browning, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf

#68 The Smell of Fun

This symphony is the standard of fun, the gem of pure laugh. It's a clown, pretending to be serious, falling to his own traps, it's Charlie Chaplin of symphonies.

Philharmonia is in full bloom, and Malko drives us unfailingly. Great attention to detail, stratified layout, perfect dynamics, superb playing, clean and wonderful stereo. Maybe it's only because I've found this recording recently but I'm amazed.

Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Work: Symphony No 1
Recording: Philharmonia Orchestra, Nikolai Malko

#60 The Smell of ADD

It's a jagged piece of music for two violins. Imagine these two violins as one voice, one person, fragmentary, absent-minded. Obsessively exploring what's happening around, not able to focus, not willing to pay attention.

There's no absolution. The music is here to be accepted. Will you be able to make sense of it, will you be able to follow both lines?

Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Work: Sonata for two violins, II. Allegro
Recording: Veronika Jarůšková, Eva Karová

#35 The Smell of Aversion

This music is circling. Big, slow circles. It's hawking but it cannot attack what's in the center. The presence there is surprisingly silent, unbearable; there's no mockery.

A masterpiece. Don't listen to it if you're alone because this is a power play, a very dark one. We will never recognize who or what is in the center, it's beyond all understanding. We just dread.

Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Work: Symphony No 6, III. Vivace
Recording: London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev