Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet

Programme

Patrick Gorry New work
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major Op 73 ‘Emperor’
Sergei Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet Op 64 (excerpts)

Performers

Andrew Manze, Benjamin Huth * conductors
Siyi Dai piano
RNCM Symphony Orchestra

RNCM’s Spring Symphony Orchestra concert opens with a new student composition, followed by a performance from Concerto Competition winner Siyi Dai. Reflecting the Dance:Music theme, the programme concludes with music from Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet.

Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, composed in 1809 amidst Napoleon’s siege of Vienna, emerged as a work of remarkable innovation despite the surrounding turmoil. Written for a new generation of virtuosos, the piece breaks conventions with a dramatic opening piano cadenza and a lyrical second movement that later inspired Leonard Bernstein’s Somewhere from West Side Story.

Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet overcame initial challenges, with early productions deemed “undanceable.” To ensure the music reached audiences, Prokofiev created suites in 1936 and 1937, followed by a third in 1946. These suites showcased the score’s brilliance, paving the way for the ballet’s eventual success.

In this performance, the bold orchestral swagger of Montagues and Capulets contrasts with the delicate charm of Juliet as a Young Girl, while The Death of Tybalt explodes with percussive energy, vividly portraying the chaos of revenge. Prokofiev’s score combines storytelling and musical ingenuity, solidifying its status as a masterpiece that continues to captivate audiences.