Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (CD)

Sergey Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet was completed after the composer’s final repatriation to Soviet Russia after a period abroad. It was written for the Kirov Ballet but early productions faltered, and Prokofiev soon adapted his music to the concert hall. The Suites avoid narrative sequence, selecting crucial moments such as the famous “balcony scene”, and dramatic climaxes such as The Death of Tybalt. Composed to celebrate the famous author’s 150th anniversary, the Pushkin Waltzes are relaxed, easygoing, and with a typically witty edge.