Sergei Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 (excerpts)
Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op. 36

The ballet Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) has always been considered to be one of his most admired scores by critics and audiences alike. And for good reason. One of the hallmarks of a finely crafted ballet is when all of its individual tableaux or scenes stand well on their own away from their visual aspects like the choreography, mise-en-scène and backdrops. That's why, like Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, its suite of excerpts has always been an orchestral crowd-pleaser, on record as well as on the concert stage.

Be it the joyful innocence of The Young Juliet, the regal character of the Arrival of the Guests, the marionette perambulations of Masks, the unwieldy Dance of the Knights or the foreboding violent character of the Introduction of the final act, conductor Álvaro Cassuto well captures, within this 'live' recording, Prokofiev's unique harmonic stamp and distinctive writing style. And the orchestra itself, the Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, very well projects the agony and pathos embodied in Juliet's Funeral.

Everyone knows that Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) was a colorful and masterful orchestrator, and this animated work well displays an orchestra's sound and expressive command, all qualities delivered with clout in this impressive performance.

This Portuguese Symphony Orchestra is relatively young, having been founded a mere 30 years ago back in 1993. It has performed in opera and concert seasons under the direction of renowned conductors, and collaborates regularly with Radio e Televisao de Portugal. Álvaro Cassuto began his career in 1959 as an avant-garde composer, and was the first Portuguese writer to adopt the twelve-tone system. In 1961 he made his début as a conductor, and ever since has been a staunch promoter of the orchestral music of Portuguese composers. {Booklet Notes}