Does anyone know if any recordings exist of the earlier versions of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet? I know the scores still exist but I have not yet come across
any recordings. If anyone knows more about this then I do, please let me know.
Thank you.
Mark van Bruggen
The earliest version (1869) has been recorded at least twice—once by
the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Geoffrey Simon, on the Chandos
label; and also by Dalia Atlas conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra on Carlton
Classics/Pickwick. I've been told that the recording with the London Philharmonic
under Derek Gleeson on Pickwick is also the original version, but I can't
vouch for that personally.
The BBC recorded the second (1870) version specially for their Tchaikovsky
Experience season broadcast last February, but I don't believe this is
commercially available. It's identical to the standard score (1880), except
for the last 80 bars or so.
Brett Langston