Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kijé Suite, Op. 60

A popular programme of works including the orchestral suite for the film score of Lieutenant Kijé. The original film score contains two songs which are often performed by solo saxophone and orchestra but are recorded here in their original (but seldom heard) version for baritone voice.

With acclaimed previous recordings of music by Prokofiev, as well as Stravinsky, Mendelssohn and most recently Rachmaninov, Andrew Litton and his Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra are a tried-and-tested team in this repertoire. They make the most of the enormous palette of colours and moods provided by these three scores.

The orchestra has toured extensively in the UK at the beginning of the year, and Litton has appeared on several radio programmes including a Radio 3 documentary and in-Tune.

A stunning release featuring some of the finest works composed by Prokofiev which fully demonstrates his love for ballet, orchestral, film and opera composition. All brought together by two outstanding conductors – Dimitri Mitropulos and Ernest Ansermet.

Recorded between 1954 -1961

This 2-channel Hybrid SACD is a live recording from 2009 of part of a large ‘Composer Festival’ featuring the music of Sergei Prokofiev. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and its chief conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy perform well-known suites of music from two of the composer’s works written for stage and screen, the film Lieutenant Kijé, and the opera The Love for Three Oranges along with his version of the fairlytale, The Ugly Duckling.

The Russian conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy is internationally renowned for his interpretation of the piano and orchestral music of the composers of his native country. Sadly, due to arthritis in his fingers he has been able to play the piano less and less in recent years, and during this period he has taken the opportunity to focus his attention on his role as a conductor. He became Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the time of these performances. Sergei Prokofiev composed the score for Lieutenant Kijé, in 1933 for the film of the same name, and compiled a suite of music from the soundtrack which became his opus 60. The “Love for Three Oranges” suite is taken from the opera that Prokofiev wrote in 1918. The story is based on a play by Gozzi that is written in the Commedia dell’Arte tradition.

Chandos brings together a fine programme of Prokofiev’s orchestral works to add to its Classics series. This first selection offers 6 unique discs performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and conducted by Neeme Jarvi. Familiar performers on the Chandos label, they are renowned for their Prokofiev interpretations.

Included on this first re-issue is a mixture of familiar and little-known repertoire. The well-known and witty Symphonic Suite, Lieutenant Kije, Op. 60 conceived as a film score, is complemented by The Suite from ‘The Stone Flower’ Op. 118 and the lesser-known works Dreams Op. 6, Autumn and Andante Op. 50.

“I have always wanted to record Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5,” says Paavo Järvi. “I consider it one of the best symphonies of the 20th century. Symphony No. 5 is brilliant in its newness, language and construction. On the other hand, Lieutenant Kijé Suite shows the much lighter side of Prokofiev as he brings the character to life in a unique and almost comical way.”