A peculiar Prokofiev combination

Järvi leads the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in all three self-contained suites of Prokofiev’s ballet on one disc

Composer: Prokofiev
Repertoire: Romeo & Juliet (ballet suites) 
Artists: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Järvi
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Ballet/Orchestral
Label: Telarc CD-80597

A rather strange idea. No doubt it suits the orchestra’s existing repertory, but as a straight-through listen, the jumbled storyline that results is a nonsense. But the playing under Järvi’s unexaggerated direction is very good: focused, well characterised, and sweepingly expressive where needed. Here’s a Romeo & Juliet where for once they really do fight with rapiers rather than bludgeons.