According to ballerina Galina Ulanova, who danced Juliet in the Kirov production, Prokofiev was a demanding presence with a meticulous approach to his music's productions.
Composition History
Dmitri Shostakovich's 24 piano Preludes, Op.34, written between 1932 and 1933, were influenced by Prokofiev's Visions fugitives.
Historical Context
Prokofiev was initially hesitant to stage Romeo and Juliet due to the 'sinister criticism' received by Dmitri Shostakovich and others from the Russian State newspaper, Pravda.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Prokofiev altered much of the orchestration for the Kirov Theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet to make rhythms clearer for dancers, due to the theatre's acoustics.
Performer Biography
Veit Hertenstein, the violist on this album, began his connection to Romeo and Juliet as a 7-year-old dancer.
Composition History
Vadim Borisovsky, a violist and friend of both Prokofiev and Shostakovich, arranged selections from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet for viola and piano.
Composition History
Sergei Prokofiev completed the first version of his ballet score for Romeo and Juliet in 1935, with its premiere taking place in Brno, now in the Czech Republic.
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