Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Carnival Romain

On this CD:

1. Le carnival romain, ouverture catactéristique (Roman Carnival Overture) for orchestra, H.95 (Op. 9)
Composed by Hector Berlioz

Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

2. Symphonie fantastique for orchestra ("Episode de la vie d'un Artiste...en cinq parties"), H.48 (Op. 14)
Composed by Hector Berlioz

Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras

Tracks:

Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23: Overture
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: Scene In The Country
Gabrieli: Sacerdos et Pontifex
L'Enfance du Christ, Op. 25: Flight Into Egypt: Overture
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: A Ball
Harold In Italy, Op. 16: Scenes Of Joy And Sadness
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23: Overture
Harold In Italy, Op. 16: Serenade
Les Troyens: Trojan March (Complete)
Reverie And Caprice, Op. 8
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: Dreams, Passions
Lelio, Or The Return To Life, Op. 14b
Harold In Italy, Op. 16: Scenes Of Joy
Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9
Reverie And Caprice, Op. 8
Damnation Of Faust, Op. 24: Hungarian March
L'Enfance du Christ, Op. 25: Rest Of The Holy Family
L'Enfance du Christ, Op. 25: Flight Into Egypt, Dance
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: March To The Scaffold
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: I. Dreams, Passions
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: II. A Ball
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: IV. March To The Scaffold
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: V. Dream Of A Witches' Sabbath

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
A generally good Berlioz collection
Power and passion from Berlioz

Berlioz: Great Orchestral Works

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Liszt: Works for Piano and Orchestra
Schostakowitsch: Symphonie No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93
Schumann: Op. Nos. 44 & 47
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 1-3
Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 1

ASIN: B00000419B
Release Date: 1994-05-10

Tracks:

Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: 1. Reveries - Passions (Largo - Allegro agitato e appassionato assai)
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: 2. Un bal (Valse. Allegro non troppo)
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: 3. Scene aux champs (Adagio)
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: 4. Marche au supplice (Allegreto non troppo)
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: 5. Songe d'une nuit de sabbat (Larghetto - Allegro - Ronde du sabbat: Poco meno mosso)
Le carnaval romain, Op. 9: Overture
Le corsaire, Op. 21: Overture

Tracks:

Harold en Italie, Op. 16: 1. Harold aux montagnes (Adagio - Allegro)
Harold en Italie, Op. 16: 1. Harold aux montagnes (Adagio - Allegro)
Harold en Italie, Op. 16: 2. Marche des pelerins chantant la priere du soir (Allegretto)
Harold en Italie, Op. 16: 3. Serenade d'un montagnard des Abruzzes a sa maitresse (Allegro assai - Allegretto)
Harold en Italie, Op. 16: 4. Orgie des brigands, finale (Allegro frenetico - Adagio - Allegro. Tempo I)
Symphonie funebre et triomphale, Op. 15: 1. Marche funebre (Moderato un poco lento)
Symphonie funebre et triomphale, Op. 15: 2. Oraison funebre (Adagio non tanto - Andantino un poco lento e sostenuto)
Symphonie funebre et triomphale, Op. 15: 3. Apotheose (Allegro non troppo e pomposo)

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-03-17

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)belonged to no school, and resists categorization more fiercely, perhaps, than any other composer. The originality and vitalilty of his ideas demanded novel means of expression which affected the fundamental elements of musical language. The language he forged depended to an unusual extent upon the subject-matter of his works, all of which are related to a dramatic or poetic theme. This theme determines the manner of each work, so that there is no clearly defined development from an early period, through the middle of his career, to a later style; his works never repeat the inventions, harmonic and melodic or formal, of their predecessors.
The 'Symphonie fantastique' blazed new paths, filling the ear with novel combinations to a degree hardly experienced again. The symphony is nowhere operatic, but it is dramatic, and the high points of the drama are embodied in expressive instrumental music; the program, integral to the conception, acts, Berlioz said,like the spoken dialogue in an opera,in that it provides the motivation and explains and justifies the mood of the successive movements.
His second symphony, 'Harold en Italie', was begun at the request of Paganini, who wanted a piece for viola, but then rejected the drafts of Berlioz, who promptly converted the work into a symphony with viola solo. Searching for a subject, he considered a plan for a work on the death of Mary Queen of Scots. He then adopted a title referring to Byron's wandering hero (Childe Harold) and created a loose sequence of scenes in the figure of the lonely wanderer(represented by the viola) is set in contexts reminiscent of his own experience in Italy. This symphony is a picturesque work,whereas the 'Fantastique' is dramatic.
Berlioz was given a commission in 1840, by the newly formed French government for his 'Symphonie funebre et triomphale'. He wrote it for wind, with optional strings and chorus. The style of the work recalls the open-air ceremonials of the previous Revolution, when music was used at open-air gatherings of national prayer and praise.
The selections on these 2 discs cover the years from 1963 to 1975,although this compilation dates 1994. The performance of these selections are all basically outstanding because the variance of orchestral colour demanded by the very expressive music of Berlioz is present at all times, although some of the tempos run a bit on the slow side especially in the 'Symphonie fantastique'. However, I continued to be impressed by the instrumental expertise, especially in the solo 'spots', of which there were many. The 3rd movement of the 'Symphonie funebre' featuring the John Aldis Choir was exciting to hear, and I wish in the liner notes that they had included the words because they are not really audible on the recording. The violist in 'Harold in Italie' Nobuko Imai was skilled and in tune most of the time. All in all, for lovers of Berlioz, this is a good collection.

A generally good Berlioz collection.......2005-08-19

This recording is good generally, but the Symphonie fantastique really disappoints. The recording would be great if the LSO sound more 'fantastique'(you will konw what I'm talking about if you listen to the Concertgebouw/Davis recording by DECCA). Despite the disappointing Symphonie fantastique, I still like Colin Davis' "Harold in Italy" and the overtures, his poetry-like expressions and passion is perfectly suitable for Berlioz.

However, taking its price into consideration, I would not hesitate to reccomend this recording to those who want to try Berlioz.

Power and passion from Berlioz.......1998-11-12

This 2-disc set gives a wonderful selection of the orchestral works of Hector Berlioz. Of the five pieces included, I most enjoyed the "Symphonie Fantastique" and the "Symphonie Funebre et Triomphale." The power of Berlioz is beautifully expressed by the London Symphony Orchestra; one can feel the musical power, not just hear it. A wonderful collection of truly passionate music.

Average customer rating:

I am in a Box with Berlioz Box Sets
A superb set, well worth the price!
all the overtures *NOT*
A wonderful collection of Berlioz

Berlioz: Complete Orchestral Works

Manufacturer: Philips
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

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Liszt: Works for Piano and Orchestra
Strauss: Orchestral Works
Debussy, Ravel: Orchestral Works
Dvorák: The Symphonies
Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies

ASIN: B0000041MZ
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 1. Rries, Passions (Largo - Allegro agitato ed appassinonato assai)
Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 2. Un bal (Valse: Allegro non troppo)
Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 3. Sc aux champs (Adagio)
Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 4. Marche au supplice (Allegretto non troppo)
Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 5. Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat (Larghetto - Allegro- Ronde du Sabbat: Poco menu mosso)
Tristia, Op 18 (excerpts): 3. Marche fune pour la derni sc d'Hamlet (Allegretto moderato)
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24 (excerpts): Menuet des follets
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24 (excerpts): Marche hongroise

Tracks:

Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 1. Le peur (Goethe, Duboys)
Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 2. Choeur d'ombres (Berlioz)
Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 3. Chanson de brigands (Berlioz)
Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 4. Chant de bonheur (Berlioz)
Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 5. La harpe ienne - Souvenirs
Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 6. Fantasie sur la Temp de Shakespeare (Berlioz)
Grande Symphonie fune et triomphale, Op. 15: 1. Marche fune (Moderato un poco lento)
Grande Symphonie fune et triomphale, Op. 15: 2. Oraison fune (Adagio non tanto - Andantino un poco lento e sostenuto)
Grande Symphonie fune et triomphale, Op. 15: 3. Apothe (Allegro non troppo e pomposo)

Tracks:

Harold en Italie, Op.16: 1a. Harold aux montagnes (Adagio)
Harold en Italie, Op.16: 1b. Harold aux montagnes (Allegro)
Harold en Italie, Op.16: 2. Marche des prins (Allegretto)
Harold en Italie, Op.16: 3. Snade (Allegro assai - Allegretto)
Harold en Italie, Op.16: 4. Orgie de brigands (Allegro frenetico - Adagio - Allegro, Tempo I)
Les Troyens arthage: Prelude From: Les Troyens arthage: Part II, Act III
Les Troyens (Act IV): No. 29: Chasse royale et orage - Pantomime
Les Troyens (Act IV): No. 32: Marche pour l'entrde la reine; No. 33: Ballets
Les Troyens (Act IV): -A: Pas des Alm
Les Troyens (Act IV): -B: Danse des esclaves
Les Troyens (Act IV): - C: Pas d'esclaves nubiennes
Rrie et Caprice, Op.8

Tracks:

Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Introduction
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Prologue: 'D'anciennes haines endormies'
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Strophe 1: 'Premiers transports que nul n' oublie'
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Strophe 2: 'Heureux enfants aux coers de flamme'
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Rtatif et Scherzetto: 'Bientot de Romeo' - 'Mab! la messagere' - Bientot la mort est souveraine'
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part II, Romseul - Tristesse - Concert eet bal
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part II, Grande f chez les Capulets
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part III, 'Ohe! Capulets! Bonsoir, bonsoir!'
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part III, Sc d'amour

Tracks:

Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Scherzo: La reine Mab ou la fdes songes
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Convoi fune de Juliette: 'Jetez des fleurs pour la vierge expiree!'
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Romau tombeau des Capulets
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Finale. Choeurs et Rtatif du P Laurence: 'Quo! Romeo de retour!'
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Finale. Air du P Laurence: 'Pauvres enfants que je pleure' - 'Mais notre sang rougit leur glaive'
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Finale. Serment de rnciliation: 'Jurez donc'

Tracks:

Beatrice et Benedict
Benvenuto Cellini
Overtures: Le roi Lear, Op. 4
Les Francs - juges, Op. 3
Waverley, Op. 1
Le corsaire, Op. 21
Carnaval romain, Op. 9

Amazon.com

Berlioz was the first Romantic master of the orchestra. His music hasn't been surpassed in terms of sheer brilliance and accuracy of effect. This set includes all of the overtures, the Symphonie fantastique, Harold in Italy, the Royal Hunt and Storm from Les Troyens, orchestral music from The Damnation of Faust and Romeo and Juliet, and the completely insane Grande Symphonie funebre et triumphale. Davis achieved his reputation as a conductor as a Berlioz specialist, and he proves an expert advocate on behalf of this stimulating, bizarre, and totally original genius. The recording quality, so critical in such colorful music, is also very good. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

I am in a Box with Berlioz Box Sets.......2004-02-22

First I ordered Hector Berlioz Complete Orchestral Works (Box Set) in a 6-CD set by Sir Colin Davis because orchestral is what I like best. That was in 2002. Now I have ordered The Berlioz Edition (Box Set)in a 24-CD Box Set by Sir Colin Davis because I like what I have heard of Berlioz by Davis. I will put this up for sale, and if it doesn't go I will consider putting The Berlioz Edition up for sale after I have heard it. As I said I am in a Box with Berlioz Box Sets and can't afford both.

A superb set, well worth the price!.......2002-08-16

For those of us who grew up in the 1950s and '60s, the music of Berlioz means Munch and Toscanini: Munch for his incendiary performances of "Symphonie Fantastique," "Romeo et Juliette," "Damnation of Faust," the Requiem and the overtures (among others), Toscanini primarily for his gorgeous reading of "Harold in Italy" but also for his versions of the Roman Carnival Overture and (for those who could find it) the "Romeo" with Gladys Swarthout. These readings had one thing going for them, which was a rhythmic impetus that made even the slow movements exciting. Unfortunately, for those of us who read scores, when we checked these versions against the music we found that Toscanini and Munch had fiddled a bit with tempi and bowing accents in an attempt to make the music more exciting. Is this so bad? Not necessarily, because these conductors had this music in their blood, they were presenting Berlioz as they had processed him over a lifetime of love, and so their fast tempi had little in common with the rattly, jangly readings often turned out by John Eliot Gardiner.

Sir Colin Davis was, and of this reading remains, the greatest Berlioz interpreter of the stereo/digital era. This is no mean feat when one realizes that he now has several competitors in the field, among them James Levine and Charles Dutoit, but in my view only the wonderful John Nelson (whose recordings of the Te Deum and "Nuits d'Ete" with Susan Graham are so wonderful) really comes close. And what makes Davis so great is that, like those legendary conductors of old, he really gets under the skin of Berlioz and makes him exciting while maintaining score tempi. Listen, for instance, to his "Symphonie Fantastique," still the benchmark modern recording after nearly 30 years. Davis also excels in his readings of the Overtures, music from "Les Troyens," and the Symphonie Funebre et Triomphale which grabs the listener and pulls him/her into its vortex of sound.

In the other two symphonies, "Harold in Italy" and "Romeo et Juliette," I sense a lapse of sorts: the slow music is conducted not necessarily too slowly, but with a certain Romantic mushiness bordering on easy listening. This, for me, robs the "Romeo alone" and "Scene d'amour" of its passion, though of course it is wonderful to hear the score in modern stereo instead of Munch's cramped mono, and for me Toscanini's second movement of "Harold," with its peculiar yet engaging walking gait, shall never be surpassed--and, unlike Munch, Toscanini somewhat transcended his mono sound because of the wonderful clarity and transparency of his orchestra. Nevertheless, if I were forced to I would live with this Davis set over my Munch and Toscanini recordings because of their overall warmth and excellent sound.

Other highlights include excerpts from "Lelio" sung superbly by pre-leukemia Jose Carreras (listen to him ascend fearlessly to those high notes--he hasn't done that in nearly a quarter-century!), dramatically astute singing by Patricia Kerns and John Shirley-Quirk in "Romeo," and marvelous interpretations of the Overtures (oh, and you can forget "Rob Roy"...Berlioz decided after one performance that he would never publish it or even bother revising it, hence it is not here). I do question the omission of the Requiem and Te Deum (after all, they ARE "orchestral works"), but with so many riches at such a low price, who cares? Liner notes are sparse, and this is a slimline box which means paper sleeves and no jewel boxes, but so what? For this much Berlioz, so beautifully sung and conducted, the composer himself would gladly have plunked down ...

all the overtures *NOT*.......2001-05-04

This isn't a "complete" recording of Berlioz' orchestral music - what about the 'Rob Roy' overture? Granted it recycles some of Harold in Italy, but still...

A wonderful collection of Berlioz.......2000-08-15

This incredible six CD set features all of Hector Berlioz's purely orchestral music conducted by the great Sir Colin Davis, widely regarded as one of the greatest living Berlioz interpreters. In addition to favorites such as Symphonie fantastique, Harold en Italie and Romeo et Juliette, the set also includes the lesser known Lelio and several other works. The works were recorded between 1965 and 1980, and the sound is wonderful and rich. His interpretations are also lively and full of energy, especially in the overtures.

Tracks:

Symphony No.9
Cantata No.1
St. Matthews Passion #60
St. Matthews Passion #65
Rob Roy Overture
Roman Carnival Overture
Symphonie Fantastique
La Mer
Nocturnes
Three Cornered Hat
Concerto In G
Ma Mere L'Oye
Rhapsodie Espagnol
Pines Of Rome
Concerto De Aranjuez
William Tell Overture
Symphony No.8
Don Quixote
Ein Heldenleben
Le Sacre Du Printemps
Un Ballo In Maschera
Tristan Und Isolde

Customer Reviews:

It's not just music!.......2006-11-28

I was sorely disappointed...the entire CD is littered with commentary about the music by the English horn player. While the information she provides is potentially interesting to some listeners, I was wanting a music selection of dedicated English horn music. I found the (lengthy) verbal excerpts distracting and irritating to the point that I never listened to the CD again after it's initial run.

The music is great, though, when it's actually playing, despite the fact that you don't get the entire piece...

Average customer rating:

Berlioz Edition (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000093OSH
Release Date: 2003-12-16

Amazon.com

Sir Colin Davis has long been considered the world's finest Berlioz conductor, and over the years, Philips has released all of the composer's major works with Davis at the helm. Now, they're all here, in a 24-CD box, and it is an astonishing achievement. This treasure trove consists of the definitive, available readings of Les Troyens, Béatrice et Bénédict, and Benvenuto Cellini; a wonderfully energetic, passionate Roméo et Juliette; a Te Deum which is huge yet clear and not over-the-top for its own sake; Les Nuits d'été with different singers (of varying ranges in different songs), as Berlioz wanted them performed; the young Dame Janet Baker superb in Herminie and La Mort de Cléopatre; a relaxed, sweet Enfance du Christ; a Requiem which could knock you over; a Damnation de Faust which is both lyrical and exciting; a performance of Lélio which almost makes sense of that strange work; a Symphonie Fantastiquewith atmosphere and thrills; along with 7 overtures, 5 songs, and more. In addition to the moderate price, the packaging is such that the 24 CDs takes up less space than just the earlier releases of Cellini and Troyens together. This is one-stop shopping at its best. --Robert Levine

Average customer rating:

Berlioz: The Fantastic Symphony

Manufacturer: Compose Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Fantastic Symphony (Episode From An Artist's Life), Op.14: Dreams; Passions; Largo; Allegro Agitato E Appassionato Assai
Fantastic Symphony (Episode From An Artist's Life), Op.14: A Ball; Allegro Non Troppo
Fantastic Symphony (Episode From An Artist's Life), Op.14: In The Fields; Adagio
Fantastic Symphony (Episode From An Artist's Life), Op.14: March To The Scaffold; Allegro Non Troppo
Fantastic Symphony (Episode From An Artist's Life), Op.14: Dream Of A Witches' Sabbath; Larghetto; Allegro
The Roman Carnival, Op.9
Bonus Track 1

Average customer rating:

Big names but mostly indifferent performances

Panorama: Hector Berlioz

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00004W3IN
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: I Reveries - Passions - Berliner Philharmoniker
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: II A Ball - Berliner Philharmoniker
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: III Scene In The Country - Berliner Philharmoniker
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: IV March To The Scaffold - Berliner Philharmoniker
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: V Dream Of A Sabbath Night - Berliner Philharmoniker
Le Carnaval romain, Op. 9: Roman Carnival - Berliner Philharmoniker
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: Hungarian March - Boston Symphony Orchestra
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: Dance Of The Will-O-The-Wisps - Boston Symphony Orchestra
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: Dance Of The Sylphs - Boston Symphony Orchestra

Tracks:

Reverie et caprice, Op. 8: Reverie And Caprice. Romance For Violin And Orchestra - Arthur Grumiaux - (Violin)
Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: Villanelle. 'Quand viendra la saison nouvell' - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: Le Spectre de la rose. 'Souleve ta pupiere close' - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: Sur les lagunes (Lamento). 'Ma belle amie est morte' - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: Absence. 'Reviens, reviens, ma bien-aimee - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: Au cimetiere (Clair de lune). 'Connaissez-vouz la blanche tombe' - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: L'lle inconnue. 'Dites, la jeune belle' - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: 'Le vieil hiver a fait place au printemps' (Faust) - Stuart Burrows - (Faust)
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: 'Autrofois un roi de Thule' (Marguerite) - Edith Mathis - (Marguerite)
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: 'D'amour l'ardente flamme' (Marguerite) - Edith Mathis - (Marguerite)
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: 'Nature immense, impenetrable et fiere' (Faust) - Stuart Burrows - (Faust)
Requiem, Op. 5: IX. Sanctus - Luciano Pavarotti - (Tenor)

Customer Reviews:

Big names but mostly indifferent performances.......2005-11-24

I bought this 2-CD Panorama collection for the 1975 Karajan Symphonie Fantastique, which is supposedly his best stereo version. Certianly the first movement, though as far from France as one can get (Karajan seems to try to be the anti-Munch in his suave, almost bloodless virtuosity) is stunning as sheer execution. But Karajan loses interest quickly. After two listless movements, there is some spark in the final ride to the gallows and witches Sabbath, but by then the whole performance has collapsed from ennui.

Other big names follow to not much better effect. We get Maazel in a rushed, sober Roman Carnival Over., Ozawa in faceless but well played excerpts from the Damnation of Faust, and for enthusiasts of French diva Regine Crespin, an actually classic performance: Nuits d'Ete with Ansermet. Since the same performance can be had on a Decca CD devoted to Crespin, I think it can be skipped here. I actually don't like her way of swooping into notes and missing the intonation slightly, so overall there wasn't much here to attract me. Everything was worth a listen once, and for those who need a primer on Berlioz, this would be a good place to start before moving on to better recordings.

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Le Carnaval romain; Le Corsaire

Average customer rating:

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Le Carnaval romain; Le Corsaire

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0007YH7EQ
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Tracks:

I: Reveries-Passions
Un Bal
Scene Aux Champs
Marche Au Supplice
Songs D'Une Nuit Du Sabbat - Dies Irae- Ronde Du Sabbat-Dies Irae Et Ronde Du Sabbat Ensamble
le Corsaire - Overture, Op.21
Le Carnaval Romain - Overture, Op.9

Average customer rating:

A sequence of gems

Munch Conducts Berlioz

Manufacturer: RCA
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

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

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ASIN: B0001TSWPU
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Customer Reviews:

A sequence of gems.......2005-07-06

This compendium of all of Charles Munch's Berlioz recordings with the Boston Symphony Orchestra is not to be missed, particularly as RCA's refurbished sonics, with some allowance for a few mono items, are deeply satisfying and the price is scaled to a beggar's purse. Both performances of the Fantastique, a Munch/BSO specialty, are included and both Romeos.
Exceptional singing from the likes of Danco, de los Angeles, Souzay and Valletti, among others, is on offer, and the BSO's first-deskers cover themselves with glory. This set is a valuable memento in particular of first flute Doriot Anthony Dwyer's playing. Perhaps it is useless to catalog some of my favorites here, but I can't resist reminding anyone susceptible to the unique Berlioz combination of elegance and drama of the Harold in Italy with Primrose as soloist, the Requiem (still my preferred version), the stereo Romeo where it strikes me that the composer is not loquacious and bombastic but eloquent, often terse, with not a wasted note, and L'Enfance du Christ.
If you miss this, you will be sorry, even if, like me, you already have some of its contents. A sequence of gems.

-Frank W. Barham

Average customer rating:

A tempting treasury, but only a few performances are great
Berlioz with immaginative variety

The Berlioz Experience

Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies & Tone Poems

ASIN: B00008RWRJ
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Customer Reviews:

A tempting treasury, but only a few performances are great.......2007-02-03

Ten discs of Berlioz is a sumptuous offering, and temptingly cheap at Amazon Marketplace. DG has used this occasion to repackage some outstanding performances. At the top of the list goes James Levine's electrifying Requiem from Berlin, with playing and singing to match the conductor's inspiration. Also exciting--perhaps surprisingly so--is Abbado's Te Deum, which has rawer edges and sharper focus than Colin Davis's on Philips, long the standard version.

Dropping down a notch in quality, we have an elegantly played Romeo et Juliette by the Boston Symphony, superbly recorded, that has few rivals for refined virtuosity. But after a while Seiji Ozawa's approach seems to lack depth and meaning; he's skating over the surface of the musical drama, however brilliantly. Sharp and brilliant also describes Myung-Whun Chung's contribution, a Symponie fantastique, two overtures, and the Royal Hunt and Storm from Les Troyens, all with his well-trained Bastille Opera orchestra. Chung is to the manner born in Berlioz, but so are greater conductors in these works, including Munch and Markevitch.

At about the same quality level I'd place the Mort de Cleopatre, a dullish early vocal scene sung with plushness by Jessye Norman, and Kiri Te Kanawa's Les Nuits d'Ete, which is ravishing in terms of sheer vocalism but otherwise vacant. Daniel Barenboim's slack conducting does the piece no favors, either, which holds true on a much larger scale for his Damnation of Faust. This is a typical Barenboim product, full of lush sounds, excellent singing, big-scale orchestral work, but leading to a meager artistic payoff. Barenboim's Faust isn't remotely competitive with Markevitch, Chung, Solti, Pretre, and others in this work. It's great to hear Domingo in the title role, but the conducting is so routine that I'm not sure the overall experience is worth it.

We get odds and ends of varying quality: the rarely recorded Tristia done superbly by Boulez, an uneven batch of songs that previously appeared in their own double-CD set (a chore to listen to in its entirety, despite the occasional gem), and a pedestrain Harold in Italy conducted by Lorin Maazel in Berlin, a performance that DG surely could have bettered by looking deeper into their vaults.

In all, I can't see investing in such an uneven collection except at super-budget price. If you do a little searching, all the best things here can be gotten separately, and the lesser recordings pale by comparison with classic Berlioz from Colin Davis, Charles Munch, and Igor Markevitch.

Berlioz with immaginative variety.......2003-10-30

This box makes a nice alternative to the Philips boxes under Colin Davis. Not to take anything away from Davis. His Berlioz cycle certainly ranks up there with the elite for recording achievements. But many will not want to invest in all 3 boxes, so Universal has brought us a great compilation of some of Berlioz' best works from a variety of performers with different styles.
The jewel has to be Ozawa's unsurpassed Romeo and Juliet. This 1976 studio recording had its birth at the Tanglewood Festival and features excellent soloists (Julia Hamari, Jose Van Dam, and Jean Dupouy), a very competent choir, and of course the reliable Boston SO. The recording is of outstanding quality. It seems cleaned up a little from what I remember of the CDs from the mid 80s; much more spacious, less muddy sounding. I especially like the chorus in the hushed night scene.
Barenboim's Damnaton is perdictably Furtwangler-like in tempo, and again features top notch singers in Fischer Dieskau, Jules Bastin, & Placido Domingo; Yvonne Minto is probably not in the same class with the others, but she's more than acceptable.
Levine directs a well recorded and balanced classical-sounding Requiem, and Abbado is more than competent in the Te Deum.
Chung's Fantastique is fun and enjoyable, if not first-class.
The rest of the works are very commendable, if not top-of-the-class.
In short, you can't go wrong for the price, and if you love Berlioz' Romeo, you've got to get this box just for the Ozawa gem.

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