Sergei Prokofiev’s 1935 ballet, Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, is scored for an immense orchestra. As the tragic story unfolds, youthful innocence, foreboding, darkness, and shimmering light all emerge on a vast canvas set with rich tonal colors.
In this violin and piano arrangement, made by the Soviet-Russian violist, Vadim Borisovsky (1900-1972), all of this drama is condensed into two voices. The music comes from the ballet’s final scene, Death of Juliet. In this brief filmed performance, the powerful musicianship of violinist David Oistrakh is on display. Oistrakh is accompanied by pianist, Frida Bauer.
2 thoughts on “David Oistrakh Plays a Prokofiev Transcription: “Death of Juliet””
I saw the full ballet in NYC this summer, so great! Since you seem to like Prokofiev, are you excited that the Richmond Ballet w/ Richmond Symphony is performing Cinderella this February? I am, and look forward to hearing you play then.
Vadim Borisovsky’s reimagining of the music from Prokofiev’s exquisite ballet is just extraordinary! The “atonality” (I hope that’s the right word) transported me into a deeper and more abstract realm. It was a thrill to listen to the orchestrated version of Death of Juliet and Borisovsky’s composition back to back!
I saw the full ballet in NYC this summer, so great! Since you seem to like Prokofiev, are you excited that the Richmond Ballet w/ Richmond Symphony is performing Cinderella this February? I am, and look forward to hearing you play then.
Vadim Borisovsky’s reimagining of the music from Prokofiev’s exquisite ballet is just extraordinary! The “atonality” (I hope that’s the right word) transported me into a deeper and more abstract realm. It was a thrill to listen to the orchestrated version of Death of Juliet and Borisovsky’s composition back to back!