Prokofiev.org - Romeo and Juliet Op.64

Romeo and Juliet, Ballet in Four Acts, Op 64

Genre: Ballet
Duration: 130 minutes (approximate)

  Act I
    Scene 1
      No 1       Introduction
      No 2       Romeo
      No 3       The street awakens
      No 4       Morning Dance
      No 5       The Quarrel
      No 6       The Fight
      No 7       The Prince gives his order
      No 8       Interlude
    Scene 2
      No 9       Preparing for the Ball (Juliet and the Nurse)
      No 10       Juliet as a young girl
      No 11       Arrival of the guests (Minuet)
      No 12       Masks
      No 13       Dance of the Knights
      No 14       Juliet's Variation
      No 15       Mercutio
      No 16       Madrigal
      No 17       Tybalt recognizes Romeo
      No 18       Departure of the guests (Gavotte)
      No 19       Balcony Scene
      No 20       Romeo's Variation
      No 21       Love Dance
  Act II
    Scene 1
      No 22       Folk Dance
      No 23       Romeo and Mercutio
      No 24       Dance of the five couples
      No 25       Dance with the mandolins
      No 26       The Nurse
      No 27       The Nurse gives Romeo the note from Juliet
    Scene 2
      No 28       Romeo with Friar Laurence
      No 29       Juliet with Friar Laurence
    Scene 3
      No 30       The people continue to make merry
      No 31       A Folk Dance again
      No 32       Tybalt meets Mercutio
      No 33       Tybalt and Mercutio fight
      No 34       Mercutio dies
      No 35       Romeo decides to avenge Mercutio's death
      No 36       Finale
  Act III
    Scene 1
      No 37       Introduction
      No 38       Romeo and Juliet (Juliet's bedroom)
      No 39       The last farewell
      No 40       The Nurse
      No 41       Juliet refuses to marry Paris
      No 42       Juliet alone
      No 43       Interlude
    Scene 2
      No 44       At Friar Laurence's
      No 45       Interlude
    Scene 3
      No 46       Again in Juliet's bedroom
      No 47       Juliet alone
      No 48       Morning Serenade
      No 49       Dance of the girls with the lilies
      No 50       At Juliet's bedside
  Epilogue
    No 51     Juliet's funeral
    No 52     Death of Juliet

Composed:	1935-1936
Commission:	Commissioned by the Kirov Theater.
Premiere:	30-Dec-1938, by the Ballet of the National Theatre in Brno, Czech Republic. Choreographed by Vánia Psota.
Scenario:	Sergei Prokofiev, Sergei Radlov, Adrian Pitrovsky, and Leonid Lavrovsky, based on the play by William Shakespeare.

Orchestration: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, english horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 6 horns, 3 trumpets, cornet, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (triangle, tambourine, snare drum, cymbals, bass drum, glockenspiel, xylophone), harp, celeste, piano, and strings.


	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet / André Previn Conductor: André Previn Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: EMI Classics 68607 Andre Previn has been a most successful Prokofiev conductor, having already made an impression with his very fine recordings of certain symphonies, and concertos with Ashkenazy, Kyung-Wha Chung, and Viktoria Mullova. His Romeo and Juliet is good testimony to that greatness and natural and instinctive affinity for Prokofiev's music. This is a classic Prokofiev score, one of my favourites. And Previn's judgment in tempi, dynamics, phrasing and characterization are always so in line with Prokofiev's musical ideas. He has a special balletic feeling for the music, and much of the score is given a buoyancy and rhythmic lilt to make it so enticing and enjoyable to listen to again and again. Previn's Juliet is truly a young, mischievous lady whom you can actually see skimping around in Juliet the Young Girl, and the Balcony sequences are so sensuously and erotically drawn out that one can actually feel the passion of the couple making out. The people are certainly having a lot of fun in the Dance of the Mandolins and other street sequences, and the fighting scenes are presented with panache. In short, this is a performance that is hard to fault, and compared to others, Previn edges out competition as well with his special understanding of Prokofiev's brand of weird, pawky humour. Now reissued at bargain price on the EMI Forte series, this must be now be one of the best bargains in town, although it must be emphasized that this remains a very strong contender even if it remained at full price. [Lionel Choi] ( This review also appears at The Prokofiev Collected Works website. )


	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet Excerpts / Salonen, Berlin PO Conductor: Esa-Pekka Salonen Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Sony Classical 42662 After hearing young conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen's disc of highlights on Sony, one wishes he had recorded the entire score. Salonen presents the excerpts with an irresistible freshness and it is like hearing the work anew. The Berlin Philharmonic is, as usual, peerless in virtuosity and command of orchestral colour, and they certainly give effect to Salonen's vision. In fact, if this were a complete recording, it would prove to be serious competition to the Previn set. The recording engineers have done wonders coping with the notorious acoustics of the Philharmonie, and the selection here is most generous, with all the major numbers included. This disc is really a worthwhile investment. Some comments about other recordings. Seiji Ozawa on DG is pretty good, though on comparison with Previn, it is just a fraction less special and less characterful. But technically, Ozawa and the Boston orchestra come up with a highly competent account to prove a worthy alternative to the Previn set. Lorin Maazel (Decca) will please those who want their Prokofiev to be animalistic in excitement. His set with the Cleveland orchestra draws exceptionally breathtaking orchestral playing, and there is fire and drive in his approach. Some might feel that he is overdoing it - try his Juliet the Young Girl for example. A reviewer once remarked that it sounded dangerously like Juliet the Hound Dog!! [Lionel Choi] ( This review also appears at The Prokofiev Collected Works website. )

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet / Gergiev, Kirov Orchestra Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Valery Gergiev Orchestra/Ensemble: Kirov Theater Orchestra Catalog Num: Philips 432166-2 Release Date: November 12, 1991	PRKF Rating:

	Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet / Ashkenazy Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Vladimir Ashkenazy Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: London/Decca B000022602 Release Date: May 13, 2003

	Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet / Kitajenko, Danish NRSO Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Dmitri Kitajenko Orchestra/Ensemble: Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Chandos 9322 Release Date: January 24, 1995

	Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet / Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Seiji Ozawa Orchestra/Ensemble: Boston Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 23268 Release Date: October 1, 1987

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas Orchestra/Ensemble: San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: RCA Victor Red Seal 59424 Release Date: April 20, 2004

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (complete) / Rozhdestvensky Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Gennadi Rozhdestvensky Orchestra/Ensemble: USSR Radio/TV Large Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Melodiya ND 05342

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet / André Previn Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: André Previn Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: EMI Classics 68607 Release Date: May 21, 1996

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet / Maazel, Cleveland Orchestra Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Lorin Maazel Orchestra/Ensemble: Cleveland Orchestra Catalog Num: London/Decca 452970 Release Date: June 9, 1998

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet / Mogrelia, Ukrainian NSO Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Andrew Mogrelia Orchestra/Ensemble: Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Naxos 8.553184 Release Date: June 12, 1996

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, The Complete Ballet / Ermler Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Mark Ermler Orchestra/Ensemble: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Catalog Num: Conifer Classics 553092 Release Date: 1994

	A Russian Collection Composer(s): Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Stravinsky Conductor: Jukka-Pekka Saraste Orchestra/Ensemble: Toronto Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Finlandia Records 26813

	Bolero, Scenes from Romeo and Juliet, Song of India, Romance from The Gadfly Composer(s): Maurice Ravel, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Yan-Pascal Tortelier Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: St. Clair Records 511 Release Date: March 6, 2001

	Je suis le seigneur du château - Musique du Film de Regis Wargnier - Serge Prokofiev Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Catalog Num: Le Chant du Monde (Fra) 278957

	Legends - Prokofiev: Violin Concertos, etc / Ricci, Ansermet Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Ruggiero Ricci (violin) Conductor: Ernest Ansermet Orchestra/Ensemble: Suisse Romande Orchestra Catalog Num: Decca 466996 Release Date: June 13, 2000

	Lorin Maazel, Romeo & Juliet / Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev Composer(s): Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev Conductor: Lorin Maazel Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 459019 Release Date: August 3, 1998

	Merit - Stokowski Conducts Music from Russia Composer(s): Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Sophie Sante (mezzo-soprano) Conductor: Leopold Stokowski Orchestra/Ensemble: Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hilversum Radio Symphony Orchestra, et al. Catalog Num: Music & Arts CD 831 Release Date: September 21, 1999

	MTT - Michael Tilson Thomas - Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas Orchestra/Ensemble: San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: RCA Victor Red Seal 68288 Release Date: February 27, 1996

	Prokofiev - Enfant Terrible - A 50th Anniversary Celebration Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano), Andrei Gavrilov (piano), Galina Gorchakova (soprano), Mischa Maisky (cello), Keith Puddy (clarinet), Sviatoslav Richter (piano), et al Conductor: André Previn, Seiji Ozawa, Claudio Abbado, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Valery Gergiev, et al. Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, et al. Catalog Num: London/Decca 473443 Release Date: April 8, 2003

	Prokofiev: Favourite Orchestral Suites / Marriner, Haitink Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Alec McCowen (narrator) Conductor: Sir Neville Marriner, Edo De Waart, André Previn, Bernard Haitink Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Catalog Num: Philips 442 278-2 Release Date: August 16, 1994

	Prokofiev: Favourite Orchestral Suites / Marriner, Haitink Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Alec McCowen (narrator) Conductor: Sir Neville Marriner, Edo De Waart, André Previn, Bernard Haitink Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Catalog Num: Philips 442 278-2 Release Date: August 16, 1994

	Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet (highlights) / Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Seiji Ozawa Orchestra/Ensemble: Boston Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 427356 Release Date: June 1, 1989

	Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet - Highlights / Gergiev, Kirov Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Valery Gergiev Orchestra/Ensemble: Kirov Theater Orchestra Catalog Num: Philips 32819 Release Date: November 10, 1992

	Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet - selections / Solti, Chicago SO Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Sir Georg Solti Orchestra/Ensemble: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: London/Decca 30731 Release Date: October 15, 1991

	Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet, etc / Saraste, Toronto SO Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Jukka-Pekka Saraste Orchestra/Ensemble: Toronto Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Finlandia Records 19050 Release Date: March 17, 1998

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (excerpts) / Ancerl Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Karel Ancerl Orchestra/Ensemble: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Supraphon 1949-2

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (excerpts) / Philharmonia / Wordsworth Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Barry Wordsworth Orchestra/Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra Catalog Num: Conifer Classics CLASS 7025 Release Date: 1990

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet - Excerpts / Abbado, Berlin PO Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Claudio Abbado Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 453439 Release Date: December 1, 1997

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet - Extracts / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Libor Pesek Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Libor Pesek Orchestra/Ensemble: Royla Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Virgin Classics 7592782 Release Date: January 9, 2001

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet / Sinfonia Concertante Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Ivan Monighetti (cello) Conductor: Vladimir Fedoseyev, Ivan Shpiller Orchestra/Ensemble: USSR Radio/TV Large Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Audiophile Classics APL 101.506 Release Date: 1994

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet excerpts / Dutoit, Montreal Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Charles Dutoit Orchestra/Ensemble: Montreal Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: London/Decca 430 279-2 Release Date: May 1, 1991

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet Excerpts / Salonen, Berlin PO Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Esa-Pekka Salonen Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Sony Classical 42662 Release Date: February 22, 1988

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet Fragments / Rozhdestvensky Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Gennadi Rozhdestvensky Orchestra/Ensemble: USSR Radio/TV Large Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Melodiya 33 SM 02977

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet Highlights / Zhuraitis, Bolshoi Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Algis Zhuraitis Orchestra/Ensemble: Bolshoi Theater Orchestra Catalog Num: Carlton Classics 6700842 Release Date: December 23, 1996

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Cello Concerto / Mork, et al Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Truls Mork (cello) Conductor: Ladislav Slovák, Christian Ehwald Orchestra/Ensemble: Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: Point Classics 267214 Release Date: May 2, 2000

	Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet/Symphony No.1 Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Sir Georg Solti Orchestra/Ensemble: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Catalog Num: London/Decca 78 396 9 Release Date: October 15, 1991

	Secret Classics Composer(s): Arvo Pärt, Sergei Prokofiev, et al. Artist(s): Karen Jones, Alessandra Marc, et al. Conductor: Mark Ermler, et al. Orchestra/Ensemble: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, et al. Catalog Num: Delos 1031 Release Date: October 4, 1994

	Simply the Best Classical Anthems Composer(s): Giuseppe Verdi, Carl Orff, et al. Artist(s): Piero Toso, Marie-Claire Alain, et al. Conductor: Alain Lombard, Zubin Mehta, et al. Orchestra/Ensemble: Strasbourg Choir, Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, et al. Catalog Num: Atlantic/Erato 26388 Release Date: April 25, 2000

	Stravinsky: Rite of Spring; Prokofiev: Scythian Suite Composer(s): Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Stanislaw Skrowaczewski Orchestra/Ensemble: Minnesota Orchestra Catalog Num: Vox Allegretto 3016 Release Date: September 9, 1992

	The Best of Prokofiev Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Artist(s): Tedi Papavrami (violin), Kun-Woo Paik (piano) Conductor: Theodore Kuchar, Andrew Mogrelia, Antoni Wit Orchestra/Ensemble: Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra, Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice, et al. Catalog Num: Naxos 8.556681 Release Date: September 29, 1997

	The Classics - Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet (Excerpts) / Pesek Composer(s): Sergei Prokofiev Conductor: Libor Pesek Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Catalog Num: Virgin Classics 61977 Release Date: 1/29/2002

	The Symphonic Sound Stage - A Listener's Guide Composer(s): Richard Strauss, Ottorino Respighi, et al. Conductor: Gerard Schwarz, et al. Orchestra/Ensemble: Seattle Symphony Orchestra, et al. Catalog Num: Delos 3502 Release Date: January 1, 1988

	The Yellow Guide - Classical Music Composer(s): Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel, et al. Artist(s): (multiple) Conductor: Seiji Ozawa, et al. Orchestra/Ensemble: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, English Concert Choir, et al. Catalog Num: Deutsche Grammophon 457440 Release Date: March 17, 1998

	As You Like It - Shakespeare in Music Composer(s): Prokofiev, Mendelssohn, John Wilson, et al. Artist(s): Boje Skovhus, Larry Kert, et al. Conductor: Esa-Pekka Salonen, George Szell, Mary Springfels, et al. Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Newberry Consort, et al. Catalog Num: Sony Classical 61874 Release Date: January 4, 2000

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