FULL Alexander Nevsky (Prokofiev) & Henry V (Walton) Mexico City 2021
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Alexander Nevsky & Henry V
- Composer: Prokofiev Sergei, Walton William
- Libretto: Vladimir Lugovskoy, William Shakespeare
- Venue & Opera Company: Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City
- Recorded: June 11, 2021
- Type: Concert Live
- Singers: Belem Rodríguez, Mario Iván Martínez
- Conductor: Carlos Miguel Prieto
- Orchestra: National Symphony Orchestra, Schola Cantorum de México
- Chorus: Coro del Teatro de Bellas Artes
- Stage Director:
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura
- Date Published: 2021
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 3 Audio:4
- Subtitles: yessubs, essubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Two notable examples of the contributions of concert music composers to cinema are the subject of this concert by the National Symphony Orchestra of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature, featuring the presentation of the film Alexander Nevsky, with live music by Serguei Prokofiev, and Enrique V, with the music of William Walton.
Directed by Sergei Eisenstein, Alexander Nevsky’s film chronicles the feat of the Russian prince whose prowess as a military leader against Swedish and German invaders made him a national hero in the 13th century. Based on the soundtrack composed by Sergei Prokofiev for this film, the composer prepared in 1939 a cantata for mezzo-soprano, choir and orchestra. This work is one of the few examples of film music that has found a permanent place in the repertoire of concert halls as one of the most famous cantatas of the 20th century.
The English composer William Walton created, between 1934 and 1970, the soundtrack for 14 films, 4 of them dedicated to the work of William Shakespeare. In 1945 the film Henry V was released, based on one of Shakespeare’s historical plays, directed, produced and starred by Laurence Olivier. It is one of the best Shakespearean adaptations in film history. William Walton, one of the greatest creators of music for the cinema, affirmed: “Making films has given me a great fluency when writing music.” The English composer received an Oscar nomination for his splendid score for Henry V.