This recording reorders excerpts from Prokofiev's three suites of Romeo and Juliet to follow the original dramatic form of Shakespeare's play as closely as possible.
Composer Biography
Sergey Prokofiev, the composer, was an only child whose musical talents were nurtured by his mother, an amateur pianist, and he began composing at age five.
Composition History
The ballet Romeo and Juliet was initially rejected by the Leningrad Theatre due to swift changes following the assassination of Sergey Kirov, a party secretary.
Compositional Technique
Prokofiev's musical style is characterized by astringent harmony, a distinctly Russian melodic turn, and an idiosyncratic gift for orchestration.
Historical Context
Prokofiev died in 1953 on the same day as Joseph Stalin, and thus did not experience the subsequent easing of official policy towards the arts.
Historical Context
Prokofiev settled in Moscow in 1936, just as an official crackdown on music that didn't align with government aims began, initially targeting Shostakovich's opera A Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District.
Composer Biography
Prokofiev left Russia with official permission after the Revolution, unlike Stravinsky and Rakhmaninov, with the intention of returning home eventually.
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