If it’s there in the
small print I have missed it but I can’t
find any reference to recording dates
and locations in this release other
than that of the location of the narration.
So I must assume that this highlights
selection derives from Mogrelia’s 1995
two CD set of the complete ballet originally
issued on Naxos 8.553184/85. He’s no
stranger to the repertoire either: he
had already recorded Suites 1, 2 and
3 with the Czecho-Slovak State Philharmonic
back in 1992. The difference here is
the post-production inscription readings
(chapter headings, plot summaries if
you will) read by June Whitfield. But
Peter and the Wolf these are
not, nicely though she reads them and
I’m at a wee bit of a loss to know exactly
at whom this release could be aimed.
One thing is for sure
and that’s that I like Mogrelia’s way
with Prokofiev. His basses are fine
(The Fight) and though the strings
aren’t opulent and don’t have much obvious
bloom they come into their own when
it comes to sinewy detail. The so-called
Juliet’s Variation is wittily
pointed, the Balcony Scene leisurely
and relaxed, Juliet Alone quite
affecting in its rather lean meat way
and the Aubade graced by shapely
pizzicati and a good violin solo. Maybe
there could be slightly more sense of
underlying threnody in the slower movements
but overall Mogrelia is a thoughtful
and persuasive guide.
Whether you will be
attracted to a performance with narration
is not a question I can answer though
it may warm children’s hearts at Christmas.
I can say that it sits at the
front of each separate cue so that it’s
impossible to edit out, should you wish
to. It’s not separately banded. If you
have Mogrelia’s original two CD set
ignore this release.
Jonathan Woolf
June Whitfield (narrator) 
