Romeo and Juliet (1934-40) by Sergei Prokofiev

Sean Lavery

February 24, 1991, New York City Ballet, New York State Theater

Judith Fugate, Peter Boal

9 min.

The balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet is one of the most romantic scenes in literature. This balletic rendition was first performed by the New York City Ballet as part of a Dancers' Emergency Fund Benefit. Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891-1953) was a leading Soviet composer and a brilliant pianist. He left Russia in 1918 and lived in Germany and Paris for the next sixteen years, with frequent trips to America for concert appearances. In 1934 he returned to the Soviet Union, settled in Moscow and composed prolifically until his death. Among his better known works are the ballet scores for Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella and The Prodigal Son; the opera Love for Three Oranges; the children's classic Peter and the Wolf; the film score and cantata for Alexander Nevsky; and the Classical Symphony.