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Background:

• Based on William Shakespeare’s play, it was first composed in 1935 and revised for its Soviet premiere in 1940. Prokofiev also made from the Ballet three orchestral Suites and a Suite for Solo Piano.
• Controversy over the original score and storyline where the Ballet ended happily, together with displeasure from Soviet cultural officials over several composers’ music, the Ballet was significantly revised with the assistance of Yuri Fayer, a conductor, before its first performance at the Bolshoi Theatre.
• The present version is usually known as the 1940 Kirov Production. It was first presented at the Kirov Theatre (now Mariinsky Theatre) in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) on 11 January 1940, with choreography by Leonid Lavrovsky and with Galina Ulanova and Konstantin Sergeyev in the leading roles. This production received international acclaim and was awarded the Stalin Prize.

Recordings:

• Shadows of My Ancestors: Prokofiev, Ravel, Saidaminova.
  Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet.
  Behzod Abduraimov (piano).
  Alpha.
  BBC Music Magazine (2024): Instrumental Choice.
  Gramophone Awards (2024): Shortlisted Piano.
  Gramophone Magazine (2024): Recording of the Month.
  Gramophone Magazine (2024): Critics’ Choice.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2024).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2024).
  International Classical Music Awards (2025): Nominated Solo Instrument.

• Prokofiev for Two: Romeo and Juliet, Eugene Onegin, Hamlet, The Queen of Spades, War and Peace.
  (All Worls Transcribed for Two Pianos by Sergei Babayan).
  Romeo and Juliet.
  Martha Argerich (piano), Sergei Babayan (piano).
  Deutsche Grammophon.
  Diapason d’Or (2018): Nouveaute.
  Opus Klassik Awards (2018): Finalist.
  Presto Editor’s Choice (2018).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2018): Finalist.

• Romeo and Juliet.
  Los Angeles Philharmonic.
  Gustavo Dudamel.
  Deutsche Grammophon.
  Gramophone Magazine (2026): Editor’s Choice.

• Romeo & Juliet.
  London Symphony Orchestra.
  Valery Gergiev.
  LSO.
  Gramophone Magazine (2010): Editor’s Choice.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2010).
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2010): Modern Choice.
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2011): Disc of the Year.
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2011): Winner Orchestral.

• Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64.
  Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra.
  Vasily Petrenko.
  Lawo Classics.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.