Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet.(Sound Recording Review)

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet. Andre Previn, London Symphony Orchestra. EMI 7243-5-86254-2 (2-disc set).

I suppose all classical-music lovers have their favorite conductors and maybe even their favorite orchestras, which often constitute a fair share of their record collections. Among others, my favorites include Reiner and the Chicago Symphony (RCA), Klemperer and the Philharmonia (EMI), Beecham and the Royal Philharmonic (EMI), and Andre Previn in his years with the London Symphony (EMI). Of course, Previn's repertoire back then was much more limited than Reiner's, Klemperer's, or Beecham's, but Previn's output with the LSO was amazing just the same. His Gershwin, Holst, Mendelssohn, Orff, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, Saint Saens, Shostakovich symphonies, and Tchaikovsky ballets from the LSO period have hardly been surpassed.

Such is the case with Previn's rendition of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, the complete ballet on two discs. Coincidentally, Decca released a competing version the same year, 1973, with Lorin Maazel and the Cleveland Orchestra, and in the old LP days I owned them both. However, when CDs came along I decided one version was enough and bought the Previn. I have heard any number of recorded excerpts and suites since then, plus Gergiev's complete recording with the Kirov on Philips, but none of them have struck me as being as well balanced musically and sonically as Previn's view of things.

Previn's interpretation leans heavily toward the romantic side of the story, the lyricism of Shakespeare's words and the impetuous love that ...