Prokofiev - Romeo And Juliet - Previn, London SO

 

 

The interpreter of Romeo and Juliet must be conscious of the deeper, more passionate expression--both brutal and tender--behind the brilliance of Prokofiev's score. He must also have a feeling for the dance, for as symphonic as this music is, its soul is rhythm. André Previn's 1973 reading with the London Symphony is warm, sensitive, and gorgeously played: here is a man who clearly knows something about love. The character of individual scenes is well caught, particularly that of the balcony scene. There is humor in the phrasing, and the tempos are indeed eminently danceable. Most appealing of all, the whole affair has a seductive ardor that can be felt in the treatment of even the smallest details. --Ted Libbey

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