Prokofiev´s Romeo & Juliet music – Masterpiece

When I worked at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, Sweden back in 1990 as a stage worker I worked during the rehearsals of Prokofiev’s music to the Romeo & Juliet Ballet.

As and artist and illustrator I can fully understand when going into some sort of trance while creating. When you get to experience it, it´s like being in a bubble when you become one with the work. Not religious just artistic. And the flow is almost unreal. And this doesn’t always occur. Sometimes it is the full reverse instead, and from start to end a damn hard work. Like a marathon uphill the mount Everest – and beyond. Some call it inspiration. But as an artist, illustrator etcetera you know you dont wait for inspiration. It comes when it comes and you simply have to work on regardless.

But sometimes its a joy of unbelief.

Prokofiev must have been in some sort of wonderful bubble when he composed that music. It is from start to end a masterpiece.

During the rehearsals of the Ballet at the Stockholm Opera House, the lead dancer dancing Juliet was Anneli Alhanko, Prima Ballerina Assoluta.

To watch her dance Juliet in rehearsals and later the final performance on stage, listening the wonderful music was not work. It was something else. I am no dancer, but how great must it not be to be able to dance to that music. Some parts of his composition is breathtakingly emotional, for example forward to 0:30 or 0:31 in the video clip belove.

Stefan Lindblad
Illustrator, artist, graphic designer
www.canvas.nu