Sergei Prokofiev, the composer, made his U.S. debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in December 1918, performing his First Piano Concerto and conducting his Scythian Suite.
Historical Context
Music from 'Romeo and Juliet' was played at Prokofiev's funeral via tape recorder because all of Moscow's musicians were occupied with the funeral of Stalin, who died on the same day as the composer.
Critical Reception
After hearing excerpts from 'Romeo and Juliet' in Chicago in 1937, a critic from the Chicago Herald-Examiner praised Prokofiev for his 'definite gift of melody' and 'authentic contrapuntal technic'.
Recording & Production
This recording is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's fourth with Maestro Riccardo Muti, and their first recording together, Verdi's Messa da Requiem, won two Grammy awards.
Notable Performances
Chicago was the first American city to hear music from Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet', with orchestral excerpts premiered there in January 1937 before the full ballet was staged.
Composition History
The idea for a ballet version of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' came from director Sergei Radlov, a friend of Prokofiev who had staged the first Russian production of Prokofiev's opera 'The Love for Three Oranges'.
Composition History
Prokofiev initially insisted on a happy ending for his 'Romeo and Juliet' ballet, stating, 'Living people can dance, but the dead cannot dance lying down.'
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