Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet [Excerpts]

The best version available

Emile Myburgh | Constantia South Africa | 10/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic's version of Prokofiev's great work outshines any other available version. The sound is clear and the musicality brilliant. The demonstrate that overplayed hits like the Montagues and the Capulets march can be played beautifully, as if one hears it for the first time."

Splendid playing, but why not the whole ballet?

G.D. | Norway | 01/15/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a somewhat difficult one. Instead of focusing on the famous suites - or play the whole ballet for that matter - Abbado (or DG) has chosen to record an apparently rather arbitrary selection containing several lesser known numbers as well as leaving out some more famous ones. Of course, Abbado has given us distinguished recordings of Prokofiev before, and his understanding of the idiom or the work is never in doubt. Neither can his attention to detail and his ability to bring out the colors of the work be faulted. The playing of the BPO is - as expected - certainly admirable as well. Indeed, this is top-notch playing, full of atmosphere and imagination and almost always contributing the perfect amount of elegance, swagger, menace and character required. Still, it is somewhat hard to see the point of this release - why didn't they record the whole ballet? While Previn's is certainly a fine account, the performances here suggest that Abbado and the BPO would be very much able to challenge it. And if you merely want a selection, no one gets even close to Ancerl (although he certainly leaves out a lot of good music). To sum up, then, while this is a very recommendable release, I would turn elsewhere first - and the playing isn't to blame for that."

Abbado's best Prokofiev in great sound

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 09/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am usually not a particular fan of Abbado in Prokofiev, finding him unsympathetic in the piano concertos with Kissin and a bit tame in Alexander Nevsky. But this relatively generous (68 min.) collection of the best excerpts from Romeo and Juliet is stunning. The viruosity of the Berlin Phil. is astonishing, even for them, and the sound is detailed and altogehter spectcular in its impact. This CD goes right to the head of the list, along with Salonen (also recorded with the Berliners), Gergiev, and Dorati."