Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Overtures

On this CD:

1. Le Corsaire, ouverture (Le Corsaire Overture), for orchestra, H. 101 (Op. 21)
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Halle Orchestra
Conducted by James Loughran

2. Béatrice et Bénédict, opera, H. 138 Overture
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Halle Orchestra
Conducted by James Loughran

3. Le carnival romain, ouverture catactéristique (Roman Carnival Overture) for orchestra, H.95 (Op. 9)
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Halle Orchestra
Conducted by James Loughran

4. Symphonie fantastique for orchestra ("Episode de la vie d'un Artiste...en cinq parties"), H.48 (Op. 14)
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Halle Orchestra
Conducted by James Loughran

Tracks:

Requiem: Dies Irae
Carmina Burana: O Fortuna
The Planets: Mars
The Ride Of The Valkyries
Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves
Fanfare For The Common Man
Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1
Aida: Grand March
Summer - Four Seasons: Presto
Te Deum: Prelude
The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor
Symphony No. 5: First Movement
Spartacus: Adagio
Sabre Dance
Symphony No. 40: First Movement
Zadok The Priest
Turandot: Nessun Dorma

Tracks:

Also Sprach Zarathoustra
Romeo And Juliet: Dance Of The Knights
Requiem: Dies Irae
1812 Overture
Piano Concerto
Spring - Four Seasons: Allegro
Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
The Royal Fireworks: La Ruissance From Music
Flight Of The Bumble Bee
Symphonie Fantastique: March To The Scaffold
Carmen: Overture
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Jerusalem
The Planets: Jupiter
Symphony No 9, 'Ode To Joy'
Swan Lake: Scene
Enigma Variations: Nimrod
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini [Variation 18]
Pictures At An Exibitions: Promenade
Symphony For Organ No 3: Finale, Symphony For Organ No 3

Customer Reviews:

perfect selection for commencement/ graduation.......2007-06-11

We were concerned after reading some other reviews that this version of Pomp and Circumstance wouldn't be the correct movement or the full length version. This selection has the song for graduation AND the extended length, so it gives plenty of time for processionals. If this is what you need, this is the CD to get.

Great Starting Point for Classical Music Novices.......2004-08-13

"Simply the Best Classicial Anthems" is exactly what the title indicates. This is a collection of what the CD says are "36 of the most powerful classics on Earth". My review of this CD comes from someone who is a Classical Music Novice. I'm familiar with some of the composers, musical styles, musical periods, and some of the terminology that is key to understanding Classical Music. By no means am I an expert. I have basically popped in this two CD collection into my player and have enjoyed the sounds it produces. If you are in the same category as I am or maybe just wanting to be introduced to Classical Music - this is going to be a very good CD to have in your collection. For the more seasoned Classical Music fan, this could be either enjoyable or overkill.

The CD contains 36 songs composed by the legends of Classical Music Composers from the past. The bulk of the works come from Composers in the the 19th and 20th century, but there are works from the Romantic and Classical eras of the late 18th and early 19th century (such as Beethoven and Mozart). In general you will find most of the major names of Composers you would expect to find - names such as Tchiakovsky, Handel, Verdi, Strauss, Elgar, and Bach are all there. The only major composer who I would have expected to see on this CD that I don't see is Frederic Chopin. The composers of the late 20th century are not included on this collection - so you won't see Leonard Bernstein or John Williams on this set. While these Composers are excellent, I do think style of the tracks on this collection pre-date their style.

The recordings themselves are done by the great Orchestras around the world. For the most part, European Orchestras were used to deliver the tracks. There are a few exceptions: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra delivers "The Ride of the Valkyries"; The Toronto Symphony Orchestra delivers "Dance of the Knights"; and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra delivers Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Some of the European Orchestras that are well known include: BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, Choeur Philhamonique de Strasbourg, and more. Also included are performances by well known names in the Classical space such as Marie-Claire Alain (Bach's "Toccate and Fogue in D Minor" and Saint-Saens' "Symphony for Organ No 3"), Piero Toso (Vivaldi's "Allegro From Spring - Four Seasons"), and Placido Domingo appears on Puccini's "Nessun Dorma".

The 2 Disc collection contains a total of over 2 hours and 6 minutes of music. The selections that are included in the set will sound very familiar to you when you play them. You probably have both heard and seen the names of tracks such as: Oref's "O Fortuna"; Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man"; Beethoven's "First Movement from Symphony Number 5" and "Ode To Joy"; Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance", and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Many of the other tracks will also sound familiar, but maybe not so much by name - such as Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries", Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathoustra"; Grieg's "Piano Concerto", and "Dies Irae" (versions included by Mozart and Verdi - you can compare the two and judge for yourself). As for the Discs themselves, I think most of the casual fans will like the selections on Disc Two better, but Disc One is still very good. On a sidebar, the Israel Philharmonic's version of "1812 Overture" is by far the best you will hear - particularly at the end, the booming drums create almost a 3 dimensional vision of fireworks being launched into the air.

There one big negative on this collection is some of the recording quality. The clarity of the recording is there, but some of the recording levels leave a lot to be desired. On some of the softer parts, it is barely audible without significantly turning up your volume. This is very evident on "O Fortuna" where you will hear almost dead silence during from the 30 second to 1:30 mark of the track unless you crank your volume up. Same with the first few seconds of Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathoustra" and Tchiakovsky's "1812 Overture". When the volume is cranked up you will hear them - but then the other sections will be way too loud. I'm surprised with modern technology that this couldn't be addressed better.

The liner notes are pretty thin. You do get the Composers, Performers/Orchestras, and recording dates. There isn't any more details than that and you won't learn anymore insight on the tracks than this information. Despite some of the shortcomings of the liner notes and recording volume, I still think this is an excellent place to start and do recommend this CD if you are a novice to Classical Music and are looking for a great place to start listening to what the Classics have to offer.

**An Exquisite Album**.......2004-02-21

Simply The Best Classical Anthems

Simply The Best Classical Anthems is a compilation album of `36 of the most powerful Anthems on Earth'. But, it is also said to be something else. It is said to be a gateway. A gateway to another world. A world where our imagination can run free without being shackled down by any borders or boundaries or rules or limits. A world that we have all seen or perhaps more accurately have all heard of but for many of us a world that we have never dared to enter. Never dared to enter because of fear. The fear of being ostracised and shunned by our community.

THE MYTH
`Classical Music!', I can hear some of you cry. `That isn't another world. That's just music for the upperclass, the high-brow, and the pompous.' Surprisingly, I too felt this way for a long time until I accepted the invitation made to me by Simply The Best Classical Anthems. I always felt that Classical Music was nice to listen to as background music for a Levis ad or a Car ad but I would consider people strange if they chose to hear it on its own. However, after having listened to this album I realised how wrong I was in my assumptions.

THE TRUTH
Music as with all forms of amusement helps to take you away from where you are now. It helps to relax you when you are stressed with anger; it helps to give you strength when you are vulnerable; it helps to keep your spirits up when you have faced tragedy or loss. It helps. And, for me the type of music that best conjures up the most passionate emotions (love, hate, courage and anger) at our most testing times is Classical Music.
How? I don't know.
Why? I don't know.
I can only promise you that in my experience it does.

THE CHEST
The album, in visual terms, is very difficult to overlook amongst the plethora of records that may surround it. This is because the album has a very distinct purple sleeve cover. Not any kind of purple mind you but the Cadbury's kind of purple. The kind of purple that carries with it an invitation. An invitation that if accepted promises you a treasure inside.
And since, I have always enjoyed the treasure within the purple Cadbury's Dairy Milk wrapper, I asked myself why would an album carrying the same invitation promise to be anything different? Thus, I parted with my tuppence worth and went back home to open this purple chest of promised treasures.

THE PROMISED TREASURE
As you may have guessed, the contents of the album are somewhat different to the contents of a Cadbury's bar. When I opened the album, I was presented with two compact discs. At first glance, there did not seem to be anything special about them. They were just your average, everyday, run of the mill compact discs. To tell you the truth, I was a bit disappointed because I suppose I had hoped for something more.
However, looks can be deceptive. (Afterall, a Cadbury's Dairy Milk does not seem very appetising until you taste it!) And, also come November each year, I am always bemused and surprised at how the shabby contents of a cardboard box can both light up the sky and light up the faces of the neighbourhood. Thus, I pushed aside my assumptions and I ignited the discs (not literally of course, I just pressed the play button on the CD player). And, I let the fireworks begin.

THE KEY
From the very beginning, you will feel like you have unlocked the doorway to something special. And, after a full two hours of listening to both discs, you will feel like you have been taken out of this world and transported to another. Welcome to the world of Classical Music.

GUIDANCE
In the beginning, continue to listen to both discs in one go (i.e. one after the other). After a while, you will know which tracks you enjoy listening to the most. For those tracks you enjoyed the most make a promise to yourself that you will listen to the whole of the piece from which that track came from.
Good Luck on your quest if you choose to accept it.
Ride amongst the Valkyries, listen to the Flight of the Bumblebees, and use The Planets to keep you on the path.

I am not a good reviewer because as with all of my reviews I refuse to comment too much about what is inside the product but rather more about what effect the product has had on me. (Me, me, me. Vain & Egotistic, I know, so my friends and family keep telling me). But, I just want to cause a raucous about the product, enough not to spoil but enough of a raucous to let you experience it for yourself.

So my final words are:
Simply The Best Classical Anthems is an invitation. An invitation to the world of classical music. A world where you can begin a never-ending quest of curiosity. A curiosity that will always be rewarded with fulfilment.

Do you accept such an invitation?

Hope you found this review helpful.

Samples.......2003-11-23

The samples are too short and the quality leaves a lot to be desired. Having said that the choices are wonderful and the price is great. If you're looking for a overview of the best of classical music then this is for you. However if it's quality you're looking for then spent the extra money and look at other choices.

Great Sampler!.......2002-03-20

This is a good sampler, since it covers what you would want in a classical music CD. Looking at the tracks, it has the classic hits, such as "Ride of the Valkyries," "Toccata and Fugue," "Fanfare for the Common Man," "'Jupiter' from `The Planets,'" "Eine Klein Nachtmusik," and "Hallelujah Chorus."

There are also some new pieces that I have fallen in love with, such as "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra," "'Promenade' from Pictures at an Exhibition." The compilers did an interesting double take by including both Verdi's and Mozart's "Dies Ire." I'm not sure which is better.

This music is good for the brain and good for the soul. There is a power and passion that the blaring and glaring music that makes up most of the FM band. I'm reminded of the religious man who said that there is no music in hell. Probably because they wouldn't appreciate it there.

Tracks:

Sym Fant: Reveries; Passions
Sym Fant: A Ball
Sym Fant: Scene In The Country
Sym Fant: March To The Scaffold
Sym Fant: Dream Of A Witches' Sabbath
Benvenuto Cellini: Ov
Les Troyens: Act II Ov
La Damnation De Faust: Rakoczy March

Customer Reviews:

Great Berlioz from a great Maitre.......2000-07-13

This San Francisco Symphonie is vastly superior to Monteux's scattered remake from Vienna. The orchestra is trained int the French idiom and its virtuosity gets full measure of the music. While not on the level of Paray/Detroit, Monteux and his band are totally-convincing adherents to the Gallic tradition of this masterpiece.

The rest of the issue can be praised for similar reasons, and the old RCA sound from the 1940s has been as carefully reworked as a car enthusiast would lovingly restore a '48 Fleetwood. And like the Fleetwood, this RCA reissue is a total class act.

Tracks:

Sym Fantastique, Op. 14: I. Reveries-Passions: Largo-Allegro Agitato E Appassionato Assai
Sym Fantastique, Op. 14: II. Un Bal: Valse. Allegro Non Troppo
Sym Fantastique, Op. 14: III. Scene In The Country: Adagio
Sym Fantastique, Op. 14: IV. March To The Scaffold: Allegretto Non Troppo
Sym Fantastique, Op. 14: V. Dreams Of A Sabbath Night: Larghetto-Allegro
Sym Fantastique, Op. 14: V. Dreams Of A Sabbath Night: Dies Irae
Sym Fantastique, Op. 14: V. Dreams Of A Sabbath Night: Ronde Du Sabbat
Sym Fantastique, Op. 14: V. Dreams Of A Sabbath Night: Dies Irae Et Ronde Du Sabbat Ens
Ov: 'Benvenuto Cellini'
Rakoczy March From 'The Damnation Of Faust'
Le Carnival Romain, Ov 'Roman Carnival,' Op. 9: Allegro Assai Con Fuoco-Andante Sostenuto-Tempo I...

Customer Reviews:

Symphony Fantastique.......2000-06-26

In this installment of the Royal Edition, Bernstein lends his interpretative skills to Berlioz, and skillfully I might add. He no doubt gave the piece the intensity that it so justly deserved. Sound quality was excellent and I felt that the recording was just close enough but not too close as in some Sony recordings. Highly recommended.

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Overtures

Average customer rating:

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Overtures

Manufacturer: Valois
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000009Q12
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Sym No.2 in D, Op.73: Allegro Non Troppo
Sym No.2 in D, Op.73: Adagio Non Troppo
Sym No.2 in D, Op.73: Allegretto Grazioso
Sym No.2 in D, Op.73: Allegro Con Spirito
Sym No.4 in d, Op.120: Assez Lent Et Anime
Sym No.4 in d, Op.120: Romance
Sym No.4 in d, Op.120: Scherzo
Sym No.4 in d, Op.120: Lent Et Tres Anime

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14; Overtures; Requiem Op. 5; La Damnation de Faust [Germany]

Average customer rating:

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14; Overtures; Requiem Op. 5; La Damnation de Faust [Germany]
Toscanini , Macerras , Jouatte , Passani , and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Designo
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00092ZAZE
Release Date: 2006-04-27

Average customer rating:

Vigorous Performance, Clear Recording, Good Programming

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Overtures

Manufacturer: Class. for Pleas. Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000069DPJ
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Tracks:

Overture
Overture
Overture
I. Reveries - Passions
II. Un Bal
III. Scene Aux Champs
IV. Marche Au Supplice
V. Songe D'Une Nuit Du Sabbat

Customer Reviews:

Vigorous Performance, Clear Recording, Good Programming.......2004-07-24

This is a nifty Fantastique disc, compiled from 2 LP's made by Loughran and the Halle Orchestra in the mid-70's. Unlike most CD's featuring a big symphony and overtures, this one places the overtures BEFORE the symhony (what a novel idea!). Thus the listener can get into Berlioz' distinctive sound world lightly, listen to the whole disc, and be satisfied the the climax of the disc actually comes at the end of the disc. The three overtures that open the CD form a little suite of a sort, starting with 'Corsair', followed by the somewhat more subdued 'Beatrice and Benedict', closing with the exhuberant 'Roman Carnival'. The symphony which follows is vigorously played and satisfiyingly detailed. The Halle orchestra performs wonderfully, and the recording job is excellent. The disc as a whole runs 79 minutes, the symphony itself about 53. A terrific bargain at any price.

Average customer rating:

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Overtures

Manufacturer: Valois
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000DET7G
Release Date: 1998-04-06

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Harold en Italie; Overtures

Average customer rating:

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Harold en Italie; Overtures

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000HWZAQ0
Release Date: 2006-11-21

Tracks:

I. Reveries - Passions/Reveries - Passions
II. Un Bal/A Ball
III. Scene Aux Champs/Scene In The Fields
IV. Marche Au Supplice/March To The Scaffold
V. Songe D'une Nuit De Sabbat/Dream Of A Witches' Sabbath
Le Carnaval Romain Op. 9
Le Corsaire Op. 21

Tracks:

I. Harold Aux Montagnes. Scebes De Melancolie, De Bonheur Et De Joie/Harold In The Mountains. Scenes Of Melancholy, Happiness And Joy: Adagio
II. Marche Des Pelerins Chantant La Priere Du Soir/Procession Of Pilgrims Chanting The Evening Prayer: Allegretto
III. Serenade D'un Montagnard Des Abruzzes A Sa Maitresse/Serenade Of An Abruzzi Highlander To His Mistress: Allegro Assai
IV. Orgie Des Brigands. Souvenirs De Scenes Precendentes/ Brigands' Orgy. Recollections Of Preceding Scenes: Allegro Frenetico
Benvenuto Cellini Op. 23
Waverley Op. 1