08. - 12. Sergei Prokofiev - Lieutenant Kije Suite [20'05]
Christine Cairns*- mezzo, Los Angeles Master Chorale*, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn
Telarc CD80143 (recorded November 1986; CD issued 1987)
(flac and scans)
Recording venue: Royce Hall, UCLA
Recording engineer: Jack Renner; Producer: Robert Woods
Our good friend Davide posted Previn's earlier EMI recording of Nevsky, made in 1972 with the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, here on MIMIC (http://meetinginmusic.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/mad-about-bad-boy-of-russian-music_27.html) back in 2012. Some may well still prefer that somewhat rawer performance along with Anna Reynold's beautiful contribution to The Field of the Dead, but this later performance is undoubtedly more polished and Telarc's recorded sound is spectacular.
As was common back in the 1980s and earlier, there is no baritone soloist in the Kije Suite. I think that Erich Leinsdorf's recording with the Boston Symphony was the only one for many years that included the vocal parts. Nowadays, most recordings seem to include the baritone voice.