Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev)
Prokofiev's ballet based on Shakespeare's tragedy.
Romeo and Juliet (Russian: Ромео и Джульетта, romanized: Romeo i Dzhulyetta), Op. 64, is a ballet by Sergei Prokofiev based on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Prokofiev made from the ballet three orchestral suites and a suite for solo piano.
- composer
- Sergei Prokofiev
- field
- Ballet
- based_on
- William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Lore & Background
The original happy ending provoked controversy among Soviet cultural officials, and the ballet's production was postponed indefinitely after the Bolshoi staff was overhauled. The conductor Yuri Fayer urged Prokofiev to revert to the traditional ending and conducted the first performance at the Bolshoi Theatre. Prokofiev could not attend due to outbound restriction. Despite Prokofiev's objections, Lavrovsky significantly changed the score. This production received international acclaim and was awarded the Stalin Prize.
Reader's Guide
Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet is a landmark 20th-century ballet, notable for its dramatic integration of music and narrative, following the precepts of 'drambalet'. Its creation was fraught with political and artistic disputes, including a controversial happy ending and delays due to Soviet cultural purges. The ballet has inspired numerous revivals worldwide, including choreography by Frederick Ashton, John Cranko, Kenneth MacMillan, Rudolf Nureyev, and others. The work remains a staple of international ballet repertory, adapted for film and stage across multiple decades.
Did You Know?
- The ballet originally had a happy ending, contrary to Shakespeare, which provoked controversy among Soviet cultural officials.
- Prokofiev was unable to attend the Brno premiere due to outbound restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev) ballet based on?
The work is Prokofiev's musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's well-known tragedy about two feuding families and their ill-fated children. The ballet follows the same dramatic arc as the play, from the lovers' first meeting to their tragic deaths.
What other pieces did Prokofiev create from Romeo and Juliet?
Beyond the full ballet, he arranged three orchestral suites and one suite for solo piano drawn from the score. These condensed versions are widely performed in concert halls around the world.
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