Why this recording of the much of the wondrous score of Sergei Prokofiev's ballet ROMEO AND JULIET by Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the Berlin Philharmonic recorded in 1986 has not become a staple in the recorded repertoire is a major puzzle. Perhaps it is because Salonen elected not to record the entire ballet or because of the multitude of other recordings available at the time. Whatever the error in marketing judgment, that error has been corrected courtesy of Sony's Essential Classics series. Rush to ..
Sony wasn't able to push the original issue of this recording on the public. Salonen's spectacular collaboration with the Berlin Phil., caught in magnificent digital sonics, was overshadowed by other versions. There's an even better recording with the same orchestra under Abbado on DG, but Salonen doesn't fall under its shade musically. The chief drawback is that at 55 min. we get short shrift compared to 68 min. from Abbado and a full 78 min. from Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Sym. (RCA).Salo..
I applaud Salonen for specializing in modern repertoire, especially in his recorded discography. Prokofiev's famous ballet score which mixes modernist barbarity with lush romanticism in such a perfect combination is one of the great orchestral scores of the 20th Century. This reissued bargain CD competes directly with Abbado's own collaboration with the BPO in excerpts from Romeo and Juliet. Abbado's CD as noted in the other review is better filled out while Salonen gives us only 55 minutes worth of music. ..
