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Romeo & Juliet Highlights
Prokofiev, Chung, Rco
Romeo & Juliet Highlights
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #1

Rather than play any single complete suite (of the three) that Prokofiev extracted from the complete ballet, Myung-Whun Chung makes his own selection of numbers, roughly following the plot line and including music repre...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Prokofiev, Chung, Rco
Title: Romeo & Juliet Highlights
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: Polygram Records
Release Date: 10/11/1994
Genre: Classical
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 028943987028

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Rather than play any single complete suite (of the three) that Prokofiev extracted from the complete ballet, Myung-Whun Chung makes his own selection of numbers, roughly following the plot line and including music representative of all the major characters. Although some other collections offer more music, this hour of Romeo and Juliet makes a satisfying presentation on its own. What makes the performance special is the spectacular playing of the Dutch orchestra. Frankly, it's never been done better. From the whiplash virtuosity of the violins to the bite of the trombones and the firm thud of the bass drum, this is the sound the composer must have dreamed of. --David Hurwitz

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CD Reviews

Good but too short
Jason Amsden | Boston, MA United States | 11/06/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD has some very good points but it also has a few drawbacks. Beginning with drawbacks, the one that immediately presents itself is that the number of selections is too small. For example, I thought that it was a huge oversight to omit the introduction and first scene of the ballet. The music in the first scene is in my opinion some of the best in the ballet. Second, at times the sound is a little diffuse. The french horn line did not come out as much as I would have liked it to. Fortunately, the good parts of this disc far outweigh the bad parts. Most notably, the string tone, technique, and inflection is unbelievable. The violin enterance one miniute into "Romeo and Juliet's Tomb" is just wonderful. The playing of the other istruments is also wonderful and full of character. I particularly like the woodwinds in "Masks." Myung-Whun Chungs interpretation is excelent, although I like the end of "Tybalt's death" a little slower.I have 4 other recordins of Romeo and Juliet including the complete ballet with Maazel and Cleveland, and selections by MTT and San Francisco, Solti and Chicago, and Masur and New York. MTT and San Francisco come close especially in the fight scenes (but absolutely not in the love scenes and "Romeo and Juliet's Tomb"), but I prefer Myung-Whun Chung to all of my other recordings."