NTTR - No Time to Review

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 ...