The hot ticket for this year's Festival is, without question, the screening of Sergie Eisenstein's 1938 film Alexander Nevsky.

Sergei Prokofiev's impassioned score is performed live by the Philharmonia Orchestra, Brighton Festival Chorus and mezzo-soprano Catherine Wyn-Rogers.

It is an epic retelling of the pivotal 13th-Century conflict between Russia and the Teutonic Knights which made rich propaganda for the Soviet Union in the lead-up to war with Nazi Germany.

It is 1242 and Russia is beset by invaders from all sides. In the east, Mongol hordes are making inroads into the Motherland, from the west, the religious order of the Teutonic Knights is cutting a swathe through the countryside. Only Novgorod stands, proud and defiant.

Russian Prince Alexander Nevsky has just defeated the Swedes on the River Neva but realises the greatest threat to Russia comes from Germany.

Eisenstein's prophetic film, made in 1938, remains highly regarded by audiences world-wide.

It is visceral stuff, both painful and heroic to watch and, when screened with live accompaniment of Prokofiev's brilliant score, comes splendidly alive in a way that must come close to what original audiences experienced.

It was not an easy film to make. Eisenstein soon found himself in a delicate dance of compromise with Russian leader Stalin.

In return for directing a potent but straightforward story, one that would open the eyes of the masses to Hitler's menace, Eisenstein was allowed access to numerous rewards.

Firstly, it gave his declining career a boost. With Stalin's weight behind it, the movie could hardly fail.

Secondly, free access was provided to Red Army troops during filming, proving invaluable to the creation of realism in the scenes of hand-to-hand fighting.

Thirdly, Prokofiev was eager to work with Eisenstein, beginning a lengthy and fruitful collaboration between the two.

It is the battle scene, which takes up half the film's length, that makes the biggest impact. The rest is uneven and, 65 years on, some scenes can seem pretty risible.

The acting is pretty rough, with only the hero Nevsky emerging as a fully rounded character in an outstanding performance by Nikolai Cherkassov.

The film also benefits from some nice comic relief and romance, vital as a diversion from all the death and misery.

You will thrill to the combination of film and music. Prokofiev sets out a vibrant vocal score as well as fully symphonic orchestration.

The music builds a momentum that is almost unstoppable. It builds and builds until the ice on the River Neva breaks and the Teutonic Knights are swept away. As the camera plugs itself into the heart of the battle action and the slaughter, so the music matches what we see.

Brighton Festival Chorus is not a newcomer to this piece. They performed it at a screening in London in the Eighties and again, last month, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall.

At the Dome, the Chorus will be accompanied by the Philharmonia Orchestra under St Petersburg-born conductor Andrey Boreyko. Catherine Wyn-Rogers will sing the mezzo-soprano role.

Tickets £27.50 to £6. Call 01273 709709. Supported by the University of Sussex and The Marit and Hans Rausing Charitable Foundation.