Los Angeles Philharmonic & Gustavo Dudamel - Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (2026)
The quality of the performance is never really in doubt. The Los Angeles Philharmonic plays with tremendous discipline, and Dudamel brings plenty of colour and theatrical flair to Prokofiev's magnificent score. The famous scenes are beautifully shaped, the orchestra sounds luxurious, and the emotional contrasts between tenderness and brutality come across vividly.
My main issue is that the recording reminds me why I generally prefer carefully assembled suites to complete ballet scores. There are too many passages whose purpose is primarily dramatic rather than musical, and outside the stage they interrupt the momentum. Instead of feeling like one continuously unfolding journey, the album often moves between spectacular highlights and functional connective tissue.
That leaves me admiring the craftsmanship more than feeling compelled to revisit the entire recording. The orchestral playing is consistently impressive, and Prokofiev's gift for melody, rhythm and orchestral colour remains unmistakable, but the listening experience lacks the sustained sense of progression I look for. I come away appreciating individual scenes far more than the complete album, which ultimately feels more rewarding as a document of a great ballet than as a standalone listening experience.
pros
- The orchestra plays with remarkable precision and brings out the richness of Prokofiev's orchestration.
- The recording captures both the lyrical and violent sides of the ballet with convincing colour and energy.
- The major dramatic scenes retain their emotional power and remain consistently engaging.
cons
- The complete ballet loses momentum through long stretches of transitional music.
- The dramatic architecture feels episodic when heard purely as an album rather than in the theatre.
- The lengthy runtime reduces replay value and makes the emotional peaks feel more widely spaced.
Genre: Ballet
Country: US
Final Verdict: 66% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 156th / 519
Highlight: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, Act I : Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, Act I: No. 13, Dance of the Knights
Made me think of:
Seiji Ozawa & Boston Symphony Orchestra
Valery Gergiev & Kirov Orchestra
Riccardo Chailly & Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
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