Prokofiev created three popular orchestral suites from his ballet Romeo and Juliet, and with his approval, violist Vadim Borisovsky arranged 13 of the movements for viola and piano. For this recording, David Grunes and violist
Matthew Jones made arrangements of three other movements, and
Jones and pianist Michael Hampton organized the set so that they follow the order of the action of the ballet. The arrangements are exceptionally well done and for most of this music, the combination of viola and piano sounds like a natural fit, thanks to the versatility of the viola's tonal variety; it can soar like a violin and project the mellow warmth of a cello. The album is so successful both because of the arrangers' skill and
Jones' gift in exploiting the instrument's versatility. Hampton, too, plays with plenty of color and drama, and he and
Jones create rounded, musically satisfying highlights of music from the ballet. It's a set of pieces that makes a delicious addition to the violists' recital repertoire.
Jones' tone is light but rich; he is especially adept at finding the musical and dramatic core of each movement, from the playfulness of "Masks" to the subdued, lyrical melancholy of "Romeo at Friar Lawrence's home" to the delicate sweetness of "Morning Serenade" to the searing emotionality of the "Epilogue." Legendary Israeli/Canadian violist
Rivka Golani, the inspiration for some of the most important viola works of the late 20 century, joins
Jones and Hampton in several movements arranged for two violas and piano. Naxos' sound is warm, natural, and present. This album should appeal to fans of the viola and of
Prokofiev's ballet.