Fritz Reiner - Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky (1960) Vinyl LP • Soundtrack

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Condition Details:

4-page Program Notes Included. Vinyl plays nicely; a few light hairlines (play-graded). Cover has a few creases near edges, light scuffing and some discoloration spots (front/back); some faint writing on back near bottom. Inner-sleeve is generic white. Spine is partly readable with heavy wear and split from top-edge to center. Minor shelf-wear along bottom-edge, much heavier across top-edge which is completely split. Corners show mild wear. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. (Not a cut-out.)

Tracks:

1. Russia Under The Mongolian Yoke
2. Song About Alexander Nevsky
3. The Crusaders In Pskov
4. Arise, Ye Russian People
5. The Battle On The Ice
6. The Field Of The Dead
7. Alexander's Entry Into Pskov

About The Record:

Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky, by Fritz Reiner, is a landmark stereo recording featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias as soloist, delivering Prokofiev's dramatic cantata derived from his iconic 1938 film score for Sergei Eisenstein's movie. This performance stands out for its vivid "Living Stereo" sound engineering, capturing the work's muscular intensity and orchestral precision under Reiner's taut direction, with the chorus singing in English—a choice that was common in Western recordings of the era but adds a unique flavor. Historically, it marked the first recording collaboration between Reiner, the Chicago Symphony, and the newly formed Chicago Symphony Chorus under Margaret Hillis, showcasing the ensemble's formidable power in movements like The Battle on the Ice, a fan-favorite for its chilling depiction of conflict and often hailed as one of the most thrilling renditions. The cantata's popular appeal endures through its cinematic origins and vivid programmatic elements, with standout sections including Arise, Ye Russian People and the somber Field of the Dead, where Elias's contribution shines. This release remains celebrated for its dynamic impact and has been praised as one of the definitive accounts of the work.