Valery Gergiev, London Symphony Orchestra – Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet (2010) {SACD ISO + FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz}

This 2008 live recording with the London Symphony Orchestra is Valery Gergiev’s 2nd complete recording of Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo & Juliet, the 1st being a 1991 Philips release with the Kirov Orchestra. This performance, like his 1st, is notable for its refinement & lyricism. It’s perhaps surprising that Gergiev, known for the wildness & ferocity of his performances of other Prokofiev works, like The Fiery Angel, shows such restraint here. Gergiev clearly understands the ballet as a work in which Prokofiev, writing originally for the Bolshoi, a theater known for its conservatism (although that production was canceled), tailored his score to follow in the tradition of the 3 great Tchaikovsky ballets. The composer certainly cuts loose when appropriate, as in the fierce Introduction to Act III & the various fights, but the score is exceptional in its delicacy & finely calibrated orchestration. Because it is a “numbers” ballet, made up of a series of discrete movements or sections, it’s easy for the complete, nearly 2.5 hour ballet to come across as episodic, especially without the visual element to hold the narrative together. Gergiev does an excellent job of keeping the dramatic momentum going at the same time as he gives loving attention to its many exquisite details, & even though his approach is refined, that doesn’t mean that it in any way lacks passion, intensity, & suspense. Another strong recommendation for this performance is the fact that it is the 1st recording of the ballet as the composer originally conceived it. In preparation for the ballet’s Russian premiere at the Kirov Theatre in 1940, Prokofiev reluctantly cut or altered some numbers & added others. This version, prepared for the Mark Morris Dance Group by Princeton musicologist Simon Morrison, restores the composer’s original intentions for the scenario & the music. Gergiev led the LSO in accompanying Morris’ British premiere of the restored version in 2008, & went on to conduct it in concert, the source of this recording. The sound of the SACD is clean, clear, & brilliant. This is a recording that should be of strong interest to Gergiev’s fans & anyone who loves the music.

Tracklist

Disc1 1

01-Romeo and Juliet: No 1: Introduction
02-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 2: Romeo
03-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 3: The street awakens
04-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 4: Morning dance
05-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 5: The quarrel
06-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 6: The fight
07-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 7: The Duke’s command
08-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 8: Interlude
09-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 9: Preparations for the ball
10-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 10: Juliet the young girl
11-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 11: Arrival of the guests
12-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 12: Masks
13-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 13: Dance of the Knights
14-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 14: Juliet’s Variation
15-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 15: Mercutio
16-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 16: Madrigal
17-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 17: Tybalt recognises Romeo
18-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 18: Gavotte
19-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 19: Balcony scene
20-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 20: Romeo’s variation
21-Romeo and Juliet: Act I: No 21: Romeo and Juliet’s love dance
22-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 22: Folk dance
23-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 23: Romeo and Mercutio
24-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 24: Dance of the five couples

Disc 2

01-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 25: Dance with mandolins
02-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 26: The Nurse
03-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 27: The Nurse delivers Juliet’s letter to Romeo
04-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 28: Romeo at Friar Laurence’s
05-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 29: Juliet at Friar Laurence’s
06-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 30: The people continue to make merry
07-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 31: Further public festivities
08-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 32: Meeting of Tybalt and Mercutio
09-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 33: Tybalt and Mercutio fight
10-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 34: Death of Mercutio
11-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 35: Romeo decides to avenge Mercutio’s death
12-Romeo and Juliet: Act II: No 36: Finale
13-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 37: Introduction
14-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 38: Romeo and Juliet
15-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 39: The last farewell
16-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 40: The Nurse
17-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 41: Juliet refuses to marry Paris
18-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 42: Juliet alone
19-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 43: Interlude
20-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 44: At Friar Laurence’s cell
21-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 45: Interlude
22-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 46: Juliet’s bedroom
23-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 47: Juliet alone
24-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 48: Aubade
25-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 49: Dance of the young girls with lilies
26-Romeo and Juliet: Act III: No 50: At Juliet’s bedside
27-Romeo and Juliet: Act IV: Epilogue: No 51: Juliet’s funeral
28-Romeo and Juliet: Act IV: Epilogue: No 52: Death of Juliet

Musicians
Valery Gergiev
London Symphony Orchestra

Recording:
Producer: James Mallinson
Recording Engineer: Jonathan Stokes – Classic Sounds Ltd
Recording location: The Barbican london
Recording Software: Merging
Recording Type & Bit Rate: DSD64

SACD ISO