Prokofiev. Alexander Nevsky (Cantata), Pushkiniana (Orchestral Suite). Russian State Symphony Orchestra. Irina Gelahova (Mezzo Soprano), Stanislavsky Chorus.

Naxos 8.555710

Prokoviev had such an amazing feel for the cinema and his last visit to the United States, in 1938, gave him inspiration on his return to his native Russia to write Alexander Nevsky for Eisenstein's film of the same name,

The movie was acclaimed as a masterpiece. The following year, Prokoviev re-arranged the music into cantata form and it was duly performed in Moscow.

Pushkiniana is a collection of major compositions written for stage adaptations of Eugene Onegin, Boris Gudunov and The Queen of Spades. None of the projects was ever realised and the music was used in a number of major compositions.

After Prokofiev's death in 1953, they gathered dust until they were assembled by conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky and given the title Pushkiniana.

Unfortunately, many of Prokoviev's works fell foul of the political authorities, Stalin being particularly paranoid about a portrayal of the Tsar, with whom he identified.

This is a strong and vibrant recording, with a robust principal, Irina Gelahova, and the Stanislavsky Chorus adding to the weight of the pieces.