Customer Reviews

Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky; Scythian Suite

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I absolutely love this recording of Nevsky. I love Jarvi and he really comes through on this recording. The high point is the spectacular battle on the ice. I have several recordings of Alexander Nevsky but I rarely listen to them since I bought this version. You will have to search a long time to find a disc of finer recorded quality. I whole heartedly recomend this cd to everyone.

I'm a relatively new convert to the work of Prokofiev, but I've heard three versions of his film score/cantata "Alexander Nevsky," and this version with the [pre-Royal] Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Neeme Jarvi is my clear favorite.

Recorded in digital clarity, the dynamics of this reading range from the gentle quiet of a Russian snowscape to the crushing march and brassy warcalls as thousands of warriors march to their deaths across a frozen lake. The choir soars over the orchestra, the strings slice through the air like a chill wind -- the tragedy, martial fire, and heroic jubilation of Prokofiev's brilliant composition are all given their full weight by Jarvi and the SNO as well as the recording engineers. Through a proper system or headphones, this is demonstration quality audio.

Compared to the Abbado recording of the cantata and the Temirkanov rendering of the film score, this version by Jarvi just has that much extra power and emotion to send it over the top, capable of inspiring tears.

Absolutely deserving of my highest recommendation.