PROKOFIEV: ON GUARD FOR PEACE / THE QUEEN OF SPADES

Neeme Järvi, a true master when it comes to Prokofiev, turns once again to this composer and conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in the premiere recording of Michael Berkeley’s arrangement and elaboration of the music composed in 1936 for the unrealised film The Queen of Spades. This is coupled with Prokofiev’s stirring oratorio On Guard for Peace. The Queen of Spades was to be directed by Mikhail Romm. Unfortunately, Stalin’s directives put an end to the project and Prokofiev’s score was left unheard and partially un-orchestrated. Michael Berkeley was commissioned to complete a version of the score for a ballet that was staged at the Royal Opera House in 2007 / 08. For publication, Berkeley has returned to Prokofiev’s manuscripts and incorporated more of the original material. According to Berkeley, Prokofiev’s music ‘has wonderful energy and rhythm. Yes, of course it’s film music but it also has this obsessive quality’. On Guard for Peace is the last of Prokofiev’s large-scale choral works but, being considered a politically motivated piece, is seldom performed today. It is exciting to be able to hear such a major, late, and rarely performed, score by Prokofiev.