Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet

Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra

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(3 press reviews)
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This stunning recording presents Prokofiev’s scintillating score for his ballet Romeo and Juliet, recorded here in its entirety – which is a first for the orchestra as well as its conductor. The Oslo Philharmonic recorded Suites Nos. 1 and 2 under Mariss Jansons in 1989, but never the complete ballet up until this point. Prokofiev’s imaginative orchestration has made the ballet Romeo and Juliet world-famous, primarily through the orchestral suites as opposed to the ballet as a whole. Unmistakably a child of the Rimsky-Korsakov school of orchestration, Prokofiev’s orchestra arsenal for the ballet includes tenor saxophone, four mandolins, cornet, celesta, organ, piano and a number of percussion instruments.

Prokofiev’s imaginative orchestration has made the ballet Romeo and Juliet world-famous, primarily through the orchestral suites as opposed to the ballet as a whole. Unmistakably a child of the Rimsky-Korsakov school of orchestration, Prokofiev’s orchestra arsenal for the ballet includes tenor saxophone, four mandolins, cornet, celesta, organ, piano and a number of percussion instruments.

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
(From the balcony scene in William Shakespeare’s  Romeo and Juliet)

On the balcony. Neither graceful dance nor William Shakespeare’s immortal words have been necessary to experience the excitement and beauty of the young love playing out on the balcony since Sergei Prokofiev (1891−1953) set to music one of the most famous love scenes of all time. The nocturnal magic is established immediately with the sound of flutes, clarinets, harps and muted strings (“but soft”) and, subsequently, with the unusual organ solo (“what light”). Yet it is not until the three horns introduce their plaintive accompaniment, and cellos, violas, and violins announce the central love theme (“O Romeo, Romeo”) that the music begins to seethe with color and feeling. Its greatest miracle is nonetheless the composer’s facility for shunning suffocating sentimentality and achieving genuine emotional expression with his tonal and melodic distinctiveness and constant surprises.

Tracklist

Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.
1.
Act 1 - I. Introduction
02:45
2.
Act 1 - II. Romeo
01:25
3.
Act 1 - III. The Street Wakens
02:24
4.
Act 1 - IV. Morning Dance
01:57
5.
Act 1 - V. The Quarrel
01:32
6.
Act 1 - VI. The Fight
03:44
7.
Act 1 - VII. The Duke's Command
01:27
8.
Act 1 - VIII. Interlude
01:23
9.
Act 1 - IX. At the Capulets
02:11
10.
Act 1 - X. The Young Juliet
03:30
11.
Act 1 - XI. Arrival of the Guests
03:49
12.
Act 1 - XII. Masks
02:45
13.
Act 1 - XIII. Dance of the Knights
05:29
14.
Act 1 - XIV. Juliet's Variation
02:28
15.
Act 1 - XV. Mercutio
02:20
16.
Act 1 - XVI. Madrigal
03:43
17.
Act 1 - XVII. Tybalt Recognizes Romeo
01:49
18.
Act 1 - XVIII. Gavotte
03:39
19.
Act 1 - XIX. Balcony Scene
03:49
20.
Act 1 - XX. Romeo's Variation
01:05
21.
Act 1 - XXI. Love Dance
05:08
22.
Act 2 - XXII. Folk Dance
03:11
23.
Act 2 - XXIII. Romeo and Mercutio
02:22
24.
Act 2 - XXIV. Dance of the Five Couples
03:35
25.
Act 2 - XXV. Dance with Mandolins
02:03
26.
Act 2 - XXVI. Nurse
02:08
27.
Act 2 - XXVII. The Nurse and Romeo
00:52
28.
Act 2 - XXVIII. Romeo at Friar Laurence's
02:37
29.
Act 2 - XXIX. Juliet at Friar Laurence's
03:27
30.
Act 2 - XXX. Public Merrymaking
03:18
31.
Act 2 - XXXI. Further Public Festivities
02:07
32.
Act 2 - XXXII. Meeting of Tybalt and Mercutio
01:54
33.
Act 2 - XXXIII. The Duel
01:19
34.
Act 2 - XXXIV. Death of Mercutio
03:16
35.
Act 2 - XXXV. Romeo Decides to Avenge Mercutio
02:00
36.
Act 2 - XXXVI. Finale
02:31
37.
Act 3 - XXXVII. Introduction
01:19
38.
Act 3 - XXXIII. Romeo and Juliet
01:46
39.
Act 3 - XXXIX. Romeo Bids Juliet Farewell
05:26
40.
Act 3 - XL. Nurse
01:52
41.
Act 3 - XLI. Juliet Refuses to Marry Paris
02:53
42.
Act 3 - XLII. Juliet Alone
01:23
43.
Act 3 - XLIII. Interlude
01:35
44.
Act 3 - XLIV. At Friar Laurence's Cell
04:59
45.
Act 3 - XLV. Interlude
01:44
46.
Act 3 - XLVI. Juliet's Room
03:10
47.
Act 3 - XLVII. Juliet Alone
05:34
48.
Act 3 - XLVIII. Aubade
02:42
49.
Act 3 - XLIX. Dance of the Girls with Lilies
02:03
50.
Act 3 - L. At Juliet's Bedside
02:16
51.
Act 3 - LI. Juliet's Funeral
06:18
52.
Act 3 - LII. Juliet's Death
04:19

Total time: 02:24:21

Additional information

Label

SKU

LWC1105

Qualities

, , , ,

Channels

Artists

Composers

Genres

,

Conductors

Instruments

Original Recording Format

Producer

John Fraser

Recording Engineer

Arne Akselberg, Thomas Wolden

Recording location

Oslo Concert Hall, Norway

Recording Software

Merging

Recording Type & Bit Rate

DXD

Release DateSeptember 23, 2016

Press reviews

Guy Weatherall 4 out of 5

“Petrenko clearly relishes every bar of this rich score, in an exciting reading full of both energy and detail. His dedication is matched by that of his players, whose panache and formidable concentration are exemplary: solos are uniformly magnificent and the closing pages, for example, can scarcely have been more moving. Recorded sound is broad and clear, although perhaps lacking in sheer sonic impact.”

The Classical CD Blog

“Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” contains so much good music. The Oslo Philharmonic’s very fine new recording of it is worth hearing.

The orchestra’s dynamics are exceptional and the chamber music pieces are optimal. Vasily Petrenko makes this an experience with his fellow players.

This recording will be an exciting one to listen to.”

Kulturspeilet

“The Wonderful Music of the entire Romeo and Juliet ballet composed by Sergei Prokofiev is now available from the Oslo Philharmonic and conductor Vasily Petrenko.

To put it straight: this recording is a gold mine that can stand as an expression of some of the very best that Petrenko has performed with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Quite simply and unvarnished I can say that Petrenko has a good handle on Prokofiev’s music on this album.

This is great music, and it is performed in a big way. Flowers to the Oslo Philharmonic and Petrenko!”

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