CDLXXIX. PROKOFIEV, Sergei: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64

CDLXXIX. PROKOFIEV, Sergei (1891-1953)

Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 (1935)
The Cleveland Orchestra
Lorin Maazel, cond.
(2:20:36)

The tumultuous Thirties had devastating effects on even the most accepted Soviet artists. Prokofiev had finally moved back to Moscow for good in 1936, but his ballet (which had a non-Shakespearean "happy ending") was not going to be produced.

In subsequent years, having "forced himself to compose a cheerful evocation of the nirvana Stalin wanted everyone to believe he had created" (biographer Daniel Jaffé), he found favor with the dictator with Soviet-glorifying works like Zdravita [see Post CCCLXXXVII].

Nevertheless, people all around him were being executed for displaying "formalism" in the arts (see Meyerhold, above link) and to say that Prokofiev had to tread carefully would be vastly understating the case.

In any case, by 1940 (Zdravita was written in '39) the ballet was finally performed by at the Kirov.

Despite Prokofiev's objections, much of the score was altered by the famed choreographer Leonid Lavroksy. The ballet was enormously successful (Stalin Prize), surely due in part to the great lead dancer, Galina Ulanova.

Galina Ulanova and Yuri Zhdanov

The Introduction is based on themes associated with Romeo and Juliet, the two lovers.

Act I

Scene 1

Romeo, son of Lord Montague, is deep in thought. His friends Mercutio and Benvolio, do their best to cheer him up as

The street awakens. The square soon fills with bustling activity for the Morning dance. Tybalt, a Capulet and thus a sworn enemy of the Montagues, enters with some friends. The two factions exchange taunts.

[The quarrel which escalates into a duel.

The fight]. The Prince of Verona arrives. Shocked at the barbarous display,

The Prince gives his order that the duelists must stop feuding or risk banishment. A ceremonial Interlude depicts the Prince's power.

Scene 2

opens in the Capulet house amidst Preparations for the ball. In a detailed portrait Prokofiev gives three themes to

Juliet as a young girl. The guests begin to appear

(Arrival of the guests). No Montague has been invited, but pursuing the courtship of Rosaline, a Capulet, Romeo and his two friends have masked themselves to gain entry

(Masks). The

Dance of the knights is interrupted by a ladies' dance. Juliet is seen dancing with her suitor Paris while Romeo looks on, captivated by her beauty.

Juliet's variation follows.

Mercutio brings the company to life with wit and good humour. During the

Madrigal Romeo contrives to meet Juliet and declares his love, but

Tybalt recognises Romeo and is about to throw him out when he is restrained by Lord Capulet, who remembers the Prince's decree.

The departure of the guests leaves the stage empty. Juliet cannot sleep because her emotions are in turmoil and in the

Balcony scene she returns to the ballroom looking for something when Romeo appears from behind a column.

Romeo's variation is followed by the

Love dance, the central pas-de-deux for the lovers.

Act II

Scene 1

The market is thronged with revellers as a wedding procession passes to the tarantella rhythms of the

Folk dance. Romeo is lost in his dreams and does not respond to Mercutio's teasing

(Romeo and Mercutio). The celebrations continue with the

Dance of the five couples and the spirited

Dance with mandolins.

The Nurse appears on an errand for Juliet. After Romeo has teased the old lady. The Nurse delivers Juliet's message to Romeo and departs in a huff. Romeo opens the letter: Juliet is proposing a secret marriage that very day at Friar Laurence's cell. Ecstatic, Romeo rushes off to keep the appointment.

Scene 2

We see Romeo at Friar Laurence's. Laurence then admits Juliet

Juliet at Friar Laurence's and the marriage ceremony is performed.

Scene 3

returns to the square. The people continue to make merry and there are Further public festivities, which are interrupted when

Tybalt meets Mercutio. Romeo returns to find an argument already in progress. He makes an attempt at reconciliation, but Mercutio rushes forward and Tybalt and Mercutio fight. As Romeo begs Mercutio to stop, the enraged Tybalt stabs Mercutio in the back and Mercutio dies. In a blind rage

Romeo resolves to avenge Mercutio's death and kills Tybalt. Romeo flees whilst, swearing vengeance, the Capulets form a cortege (Finale).

Act III

The Introduction restates the oppressive music of the Prince's order, thus reminding us of his power over Romeo's fate.

Scene 1

opens on Romeo and Juliet (Juliet's bedroom). Romeo knows he must leave before he is discovered. As he tries to slip away, Juliet wakes and rushes to him for The last farewell.

The Nurse warns Juliet that her parents and Paris are on their way. Unable to tell them the truth,

Juliet refuses to marry Paris, greatly angering her father.

Juliet alone resolves to go to Friar Laurence's cell. Interlude.

Scene 2

We are back At Friar Laurence's. The Friar gives Juliet a potion which will induce a death-like sleep. Thinking her dead, her parents will consign her to the family vault and Romeo, forewarned by Friar Laurence, will come and take her away to a new life. Interlude.

Scene 3

is again in Juliet's room. Her parents return with Paris and she consents to the match.

Juliet alone drinks the potion and falls asleep on the bed. In the wings, the cheerful sounds of the mandolin announces the

Morning serenade. After the pensive lyricism of the

Dance of the girls with lilies, we are

At Juliet's bedside. Her bridesmaids enter to prepare her for the wedding but she cannot be roused.

Act IV (Epilogue)

Juliet's parents accompany her body to the Capulet family vault (Juliet's funeral). When they have left, Romeo, who has received no word from Friar Laurence, enters the tomb believing that his bride is dead. He picks up her apparently lifeless form and dances in tragic parody of their last meeting before swallowing poison and falling dead at her side. Juliet wakes up and, realising that the plan has misfired, plunges Romeo's dagger into her breast and dies with him in her arms (Juliet's death).