Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet Suites Nos.1 & 2; The Love for Three Oranges Suite – Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Minneapolis Symphony; Antal Doráti, London Symphony Orchestra (CD) ALTO

“The playing of the Minneapolis Orchestra is on a virtuoso level. The crystal-clear acoustic and the ambience seem ideally suited to the melodic lines and pungent lyricism of this powerful score, to underline the sense of tragedy without losing the music’s romantic sweep. The fidelity of the Mercury engineering reaches a zenith in the powerful closing sequence… Doráti’s Love for Three Oranges suite still sounds remarkably vivid . Here his imagination really does take wing; such a well prepared account … Skrowaczewski includes the whole of Suite No.1 and all of No.2 except Friar Laurence. The additional pieces do merit occasional hearing, especially the lovely one from Act 1 called Romeo and Juliet” (Gramophone)

Prokofiev: The Love for Three Oranges – Suite, Op. 33a [15:47]*
1. The Ridiculous People 3:03
2. Infernal Scene 3:32
3. March 1:36
4. Scherzo 1:35
5. The Prince and the Princess 3:46
6. The Escape 2:13

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (Ballet): Suite No.1, Op.64a [26:51]
7. Folk Dance 4:28
8. Scene 1:48
9. Madrigal 3:21
10. Minuet 2:55
11. Masks 2:14
12. Romeo and Juliet 7:18
13. Death of Tybalt 4:43

Prokoviev: Romeo and Juliet (Ballet): Suite No.2, Op.64b [29:00]
14. Montagues and Capulets: Dance of the Knights 5:12
15. The Maid Juliet: 3:50
16. Morning Dance 2:10
17. Romeo and Juliet before Parting 9:07
18. Dance of the Maids from the Antilles 2:12
19. Romeo at Juliet’s Grave 6:26