Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (Scenes from the Ballet)

Michael Tilson Thomas, in his debut recording with the San Francisco Symphony for RCA Victor, has taken the "best" of the massive score and managed to give us a better idea of what Prokofiev accomplished, without us having to listen to the full ballet score. This works better perhaps for simply listening, when one can't see the dances and pantomimes of the staged ballet. It is certainly more manageable, too, for listening.

The orchestra plays wonderfully throughout the recording, displaying the greatest maturity ever witnessed in the orchestra's history. Certainly, the San Francisco Symphony has come a long ways since its humble beginnings in 1911 under Henry Hadley in the Cort Theater.

The recording has the advantage of the now excellent acoustics of Louise Davies Symphony Hall, which has been its home since September 1980. There were initially some acoustical problems, which were finally resolved.

San Francisco is now said to have a "love affair" with Thomas, which actually goes back to 1974 when he guest-conducted the orchestra in a powerful performance of Mahler's ninth symphony, which this writer was privileged to see and hear in the War Memorial Opera House (home to the SFSO from 1932 to 1980). Thomas continues to give some great performances in San Francisco, judging from broadcast concerts and numerous recordings, including this one.

It's only unfortunate that RCA Victor has stopped making new classical recordings. The recordings with Thomas and the SFSO which were released show the highest standards in performance and actual recording. This was but the first in that series of memorable recorded performances.