Sergei Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky [Enhanced, Soundtrack]

Sergey Prokofiev (Composer), Sergei Eisenstein (Conductor), Yuri Temirkanov (Conductor), Dmitri Vasiliev (Conductor), Eugenia Gorochovskaya (Performer), St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Eugenia Gorochovskaya
• Orchestra: St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Sergei Eisenstein, Yuri Temirkanov, Dmitri Vasiliev
• Composer: Sergey Prokofiev
• Audio CD (November 12, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Soundtrack
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003G5Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,081 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Alexander Nevsky, film score

2. Alexander Nevsky, film score

3. Alexander Nevsky, film score

4. Alexander Nevsky, film score

5. Alexander Nevsky, film score

6. Alexander Nevsky, film score

7. Alexander Nevsky, film score

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky/Yuri Temirkanov, December 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sergei Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky (Audio CD)

Having heard been treated to a performance of this work with film by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Temirkanov conducting I purchased this CD in '97. It was great that this enhanced CD had commentary, played the music and let you view some of the video. It was great educationally. Now it is technologically out dated. It will not play on newer computers Window or Mac, since it only works under QT 2 and it will not play on my DVD player that has replaced my CD player.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not the best Nevsky recording., July 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sergei Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky (Audio CD)

This CD is good, and if you want the multimedia, you won't find it on other recordings.

Only one complaint, but it's major: The shrieking violins that are heard as the Germans ride across the frozen lake are treated as an accent to the bassoons and the rest of the orchestra. They are almost in the background.

They should be right out in front, good and loud, sending chills down your spine! This is the only recording of Nevsky I have heard treat it that way, and if you've grown up hearing it the "right" way, it's a bit anticlimactic.

If you put a good recording of this in, and drive on an uncrowded freeway, check your speedometer half-way through the ride across the lake. Mine's usually around 90!

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest film score, lovingly re-created. BUT. . ., April 14, 2000

By 

Lawrence H. Passmore (Havertown, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sergei Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky (Audio CD)

I regard Nevsky as the finest film score yet written, and this is a wonderful recording of it. But I do NOT recommend this AUDIO CD -- instead I suggest buying the DVD or VHS tape of the film from which this soundtrack is taken: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6303387918/o/qid=955735453/sr=2-1/102-0025184-3830407

The audio CD is an offshoot product of a project headed by John Goberman which lovingly re-created the music of the original Nevsky 1938 film soundtrack. Only the full score of the Nevsky CANTATA (comprising 7 of the film's 18 musical sections) existed in the 1980s when the effort began. The remaining film-only sections were painstakingly reconstructed by listening to the film's original atrociously-recorded soundtrack, and re-writing the music note by note for full orchestra (etc.). The video, with the old dialogue soundtrack dovetailed with this new Temirkanov-led re-recording, is a thrill to watch.

And it's a cinematic hoot, too! Interspersed with the genius of Director Sergei Eisenstein and composer Prokofiev is occasional wacky (subtitled) Bolskevik-inspired anti-capitalist (and anti-German) dialogue, even though the story is set in the 13th century. But the propaganda, plus the silly love-triangle sub-plot, only add to the charm of this dated but magnificent film.

Want to skip the movie? Consider buying one of the audio CDs of the Nevsky CANTATA (Prokofiev's own concert version of the film music). I'm going to try out the Abbado recording, which has been well reviewed.

But for the ULTIMATE thrill, get your local orchestra to bring Temirkanov in to conduct the LIVE version WITH THE FILM. We have been fortunate here in Philadelphia to have had 2 such performances in the last 12 years -- full orchestra, chorus, and soloist. Can't beat it!