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Romeo and Juliet (ballet)

Based on William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", the ballet tells the story of an aching romance between two young lovers, whose tragic death ultimately reconciles their warring families. Usually set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky or Sergei Prokofiev, the scores have been an inspiration for several leading choreographers worldwide, including John Cranko (for the Stuttgart Ballet), Kenneth Macmillan (for the Royal Ballet), and Rudolf Nureyev (for the English National Ballet).

Tchaikovsky's score was presented in 1870, but the composer rewrote his piece several times, as the original score was heavily criticized. The final version, the "Overture-Fantasia" was premiered in 1886 in Tbilisi, Georgia (then the Russian Empire). The masterpiece does not end on a down note. The lovers remain a symbol of true and innocent love.

Prokofiev's score was composed in 1935, and originally had a happy ending. It provoked controversy among Soviet cultural officials, and he was strongly advised to follow the traditional tale. One of the first significant versions of the ballet was choreographed by Leonid Lavrovsky with a premiere in 1940 by the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad.

Although many ballet companies present traditional choreographies, several of the latest productions have been dramatically modernized, connecting to today's lives, challenges, and emotions.