Alexander Nevsky / Scythian Suite

Prokofiev (Artist), Masur (Artist), Leipzig Gewandhaus (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 11, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000000SEW
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #237,376 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Alexander Nevsky Op. 78: Russia Under The Mongolian Yoke

2. Alexander Nevsky Op. 78: Song About Alexander Nevsky

3. Alexander Nevsky Op. 78: The Crusaders In Pskov

4. Alexander Nevsky Op. 78: Arise, Ye Russian People

5. Alexander Nevsky Op. 78: The Battle On The Ice

6. Alexander Nevsky Op. 78: The Field Of The Dead

7. Alexander Nevsky Op. 78: Alexander's Entry Into Pskov

8. Scythian Suite - 'Ala And Lolli' Op. 20: Adoration Of Weles And Ala

9. Scythian Suite - 'Ala And Lolli' Op. 20: Tshushbog And The Dance Of The Spirits

10. Scythian Suite - 'Ala And Lolli' Op. 20: The Night

11. Scythian Suite - 'Ala And Lolli' Op. 20: Departure Of Lolli And Followers To The Sun

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Performance of Two Contrasting Prokofiev Works!, June 14, 2010

By 

James Yelvington "Professor" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Alexander Nevsky / Scythian Suite (Audio CD)

This 1991 live digital recording features music derived from one of Prokofiev's film scores and from one of his ballet scores. The Alexander Nevsky cantata reaches far back into Russian history to celebrate a genuine patriot and military hero; the Scythian suite reaches back even further to bring to life balletically an epic myth of conflict among primitive gods. While the latter work stems from a young Prokofiev somewhat under the influence of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and out to challenge the musical status quo, the former issues from a successful and mature composer with no need to break icons, but rather inclined to create one. Both works, though, enchant the listener's ear and musical imagination while displaying clearly the genius of one of the 20th century's foremost composers.

Although I'm not usually very eager to acquire a live recording, I willingly made an exception in this case, for there seems little to indicate its liveness. Offhand I only noticed one bit of noise, though a more purposeful monitoring might reveal a few others: in any case, not enough to affect appreciably the listening experience. (Maybe the engineers were sufficiently familiar with a ten-year-old hall to have learned the best microphone positions to capture the orchestra and not the audience.) The locale is the Leipzig Gewandhaus in its third incarnation, dating from 1981, and the orchestra is its own Gewandhausorchester, reputed to be the oldest symphony orchestra in the world, reaching as far back as 1743. (Indeed, Felix Mendelssohn conducted 1835-47.)

Mindful of its historic past, perhaps, the orchestra plays beautifully, seemingly incapable of uttering a flawed--much less, ugly--sound. The balance is fine, and the interpretation, under the masterful leadership of its own Kapellmeister, Kurt Masur, is excellent. The Latvija Chorus, formed originally in Russia by Latvian émigrés but now the official Latvian State Choir housed in Riga, delivers the choral parts in fine style, with clarity, warmly resonant tone, and confident Russian pronunciation, under the direction of Imants Cepitis, its fourth conductor. The mezzo soprano Carolyn Watkinson sings the Nevsky "Field of the Dead" movement in an appropriately moving way, with lovely tone and clear articulation

Though there are a few SACD versions of the music to contend with, I believe this CD will stand up very well under comparison. Especially notable are the clarity and directness of the singing on the Nevsky cantata, and the precision and transparency of the orchestra's playing. I would have no hesitation in recommending this excellent CD to anyone.