Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): Ivan the Terrible, Op. 116 (oratorio arranged by Abram Stasevich) (1961)

This is one of a series of recent reissues from the Vox Classics catalog, remastered from the already highly esteemed original recordings. I have always found Leonard Slatkin a supremely reliable and tasteful conductor, and his recordings made in the 1980's and 1990's for Vox of Gershwin, Rachmaninov amongst others have always held a sure place in the catalog. The recording, playing and interpretation are all excellent and if the program is of interest, there does not need to be any hesitation in purchasing.

There are some competitors of course, though not all follow the arrangement by Abram Stasevich presented here. The music was originally written to accompany the Eisenstein film, well really three films (Parts 1-3) a division reflected in some other versions, but not in the structure of the Stasevich arrangement which is presented as a single unified oratorio. The film, completed in 1944, was commissioned by Josef Stalin in 1941, and was planned in three parts. The first part, presenting Ivan as a Russian hero, won the Stalin prize, but the 2nd part was unreleased due to opposition from the authorities while the third part remained incomplete at Eisenstein's death in 1948.

Prokofiev had success with his first major collaboration with the great Russian director, with Alexander Nevsky, created in 1938. The arrangement of that score by the composer has justly received a great deal of attention and recordings. That of Ivan the Terrible has not received the same level of interest, although it is full of some striking orchestral and vocal episodes. The completed film (parts 1 and 2 which were completed), has become an acknowledged cinematic masterpiece.

Narrations are in English, which I find helpful when listening to the works straight through. I can imagine others may want to focus on just the maximum orchestral/musical episodes, in which case there is a concert version prepared by Christopher Palmer that Jarvi has recorded. There is also a version conducted by Vladimir Fedoseyev that claims to include all the music Prokofiev wrote for all the parts of the movie, its innate Russian feel (all Russian forces) is impressive. The version recorded here by Stasevich presents much of the orchestral music, roughly in chronological order of the story as a unified story, with a Polonaise from the original film music added by Slatkin near the end of the overall piece. Stasevich conducted the original music for the films.

There are several sections full of vivid orchestral writing, including the 'Simpleton' section, and the jagged and exciting string figures in the overture and repeated in a few sections later. The choral writing is also often thrilling, and well sung and recorded here, for example the section 'Glorification' is a great example.

The overall story is full of moments of snarling duplicity and brutality, interspersed with moments of sweeping lyrical melodies. Of necessity, given the filmic origins, the pieces are somewhat episodic, mostly being on the shorter side. 'To Kazan' is the longest, at some 10 minutes, and kicks off with a distinctive heavy march that feels like an avalanche rolling downhill before transforming into a gentle lyrical section. It is followed by an affecting orchestral episode 'Ivan Pleads with the Boyars'. Throughout the whole work the soloists and chorus sound very sure, usually singing in a declamatory style, as required by the story.

The booklet is full and provides detailed notes on the writing of this piece and the cinematic background, and the brutal historical and political environment in which it was produced. Full texts and translations are included. For any lovers of Prokofiev this is worth exploring in this excellent version and I welcome its reissue.