Prokofiev: The Queen of Spades (Symphonic Suite) / On Guard for Peace

In 1936 Prokofiev was commissioned to write the score for Mikhail Romm's film The Queen of Spades. Stalin's directives put an end to the project and the film was never realised; consequently Prokofiev's score was left unheard, and in the case of some numbers un-orchestrated. In 2007/2008 Michael Berkeley was commissioned to complete the score for a ballet at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, titled Rushes and performed in 2008. This arrangement gave Prokofiev's music viable dramatic shape, though independent of the original film plot. The Symphonic Fragments recorded here return to and elaborate further upon the surviving film music material to create an extended suite for the concert hall.

Berkeley describes his work as follows: 'I think the best phrase is that I have "arranged and elaborated" what Prokofiev wrote. It has a wonderful energy and rhythm. Yes, of course it has a film-music feel, but it also has this obsessive quality.'

It is coupled here with Prokofiev's final politically motivated work, and the last of his choral compositions, the stirring oratorio On Guard for Peace.