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CD Review

Serge Prokofieff

Alexander Nevsky

• Serge Prokofieff: Cantata "Alexander Nevsky", Op. 78
• Aram Khachaturian: Violin Concerto *

Rosalind Elias, mezzo-soprano
* Leonid Kogan, violin
Chicago Symphony Chorus/Margaret Hillis
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner
* Boston Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Monteux
RCA "Living Stereo Series" 09026-63708-2

This is a reissue of the classic Reiner recording of Prokofieff's Alexander Nevsky Cantata, recorded in 1959. It has seen many reissues on LP and CD over the years, but this is the best remastering to date. To those unfamiliar with it or to those simply looking for a competitive Nevsky, it will serve their purposes because the sound is still competitive and the performance one of the best.

While this is a thrilling account, Nevsky continues to defy the odds, never quite receiving that one performance that seems to blow most others away. There have been many good ones, to be sure, but all with some flaw: Abbado (DG) was powerful but perhaps a bit slick; Previn (Telarc) was incisive and raw but at times sluggish; Svetlanov (Melodiya and other labels) had the right spirit and sense for drama, but was a little gray and at times lackluster; Ormandy's second recording (RCA) was well-played but didn't have the necessary grit and vulgarity; Slatkin (Vox) had many compelling points but lacked power; and Mata (Dorian) had plenty of punch and drive but was wayward at critical points. And there have been other efforts not quite on target in this seemingly uncomplicated work.

This Reiner reading would have to be placed near the top of any list. Its opening and third movement are appropriately dark and grim, full of atmosphere, capturing the music about as well as anyone has. The second and fourth movements are colorful, equally effective. Let me say here that I don't mind the English singing used in the recording as much as some others have – it works well enough. In the centerpiece of this work, The Battle on the Ice, Reiner doesn't quite maintain the same level from the earlier movements, as the triumph and joy in the last half sounds a bit too obvious, almost as if he's underscoring its film music origins. Yet, that said, the playing here is utterly thrilling.

The rest goes well enough, with Rosalind Elias turning in splendid work in The Field of the Dead (she may be the best of the tens that I've heard here), and the chorus in the last movement sounding colorful and full of spirit. In fact, both orchestra and chorus are splendid throughout the work. In the end, it would be hard to top this Reiner effort, but Nevsky still awaits its definitive version.

In the Khachaturian Concerto Kogan gives an excellent performance of this delightful lightweight work. The performance is from 1958, and once again the remastering by RCA is brilliant, resulting in sound that is quite competitive in today's market. Monteux and the Boston players are in fine form. This is a most desirable reissue from the BMG folks.

Copyright © 2001, Robert Cummings