'Alexander Nevsky'

Charles T. Downey, With ‘Alexander Nevsky,’ BSO channels medieval bombast
Washington Post, January 14, 2013

Prokofiev, Alexander Nevsky, E. Gorohovskaya, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Y. Temirkanov

When foreigners watch patriotic American films, they must find them obnoxious. This was one of my reactions to Sergei Eisenstein’s 1938 epic “Alexander Nevsky,” a glorification of the medieval prince who routed the Teutonic knights in the 13th century, meant rather transparently to flatter Joseph Stalin. The film was screened at Strathmore on Saturday night, with Sergei Prokofiev’s bombastic and chilling score performed live by Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

These musical screenings have been one of the great successes of Alsop’s tenure in Baltimore, able to pack the hall and providing a thrill for both eyes and ears. The musical contributions were all fine, with a robust orchestral sound, particularly in the heraldic brass, moody tenor saxophone and clanging bells of the heroic town of Novgorod. [Continue reading]

Prokofiev, Alexander Nevsky
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore Choral Arts Society
Irina Tchistjakova, mezzo-soprano
Music Center at Strathmore

SEE ALSO:
Tim Smith, BSO presents 'Alexander Nevsky' with live soundtrack (Baltimore Sun, January 12)