Prokofiev's ballet version of Romeo and Juliet was initially rejected by the Kirov Ballet due to the composer's attempt at a happy ending and the experimental nature of its music.
Performer Biography
Evgueni Mravinsky, considered the greatest Russian conductor of his generation, transformed the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra into one of the finest orchestras in the world.
Recording & Production
This album features live recordings from Moscow in 1967 and Leningrad in 1981, alongside a studio recording made near London in 1962.
Performer Biography
Pierre Monteux, one of the greatest French conductors of the 20th century, made his debut in the United States in 1916 and later founded the Orchestre Symphonique de Paris.
Performer Biography
Kirill Kondrashin, a 'force of Nature' conductor, was removed from the Bolshoi Theatre after Stalin's death and tasked with training a youth orchestra, which became the world-class Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra.
Compositional Technique
Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture, a 15-minute symphonic poem, contains the famous 'love theme' which he repeats at different points in the story.
Cultural Impact
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is one of his most frequently performed plays, with the title characters regarded as archetypal young lovers.
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Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Capriccio Italien, Romeo & Juliet, The Nutcracker Suite, Piano Concerto No. 1 & Symphony No. 5
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