Search - Berlioz, Solti, Cso :: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14; Ouverture "Les Francs-Juges"

Incredible performance!

sam1858 | Texas, USA | 10/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This performance was recorded in 1974. The CSO recorded Symphonie Fantastique twice with Solti. This one and the other one in the early 1990's.

Of the two, this one is the better one (to my taste). It's exciting, highly precise with the lush strings, solid woodwinds, and the awesome tight brass section. I believe Solti is fresher here than in the other recording.

Solti is able to extract lush string sounds especially during the "Un bal" mvt.

But the best parts of this disc are the "March to the Scaffold" and the "Witche's Sabbath"

I've never heard tighter, more precise, well-balanced, controlled, yet powerful brass playing, I know the CSO has brass, but I could not believe that wonderful 1st chord that occurs in the beginning of the 4th mvt.

The last mvt. is simply amazing, the entire orchestra plays marvelously throughout. And again, the brasses play the middle "dies irae" section with power and a sense of foreboding. The end of the 5th mvt. is amazin, there is a frenzy that ends with the brass playing broken chords at an amazing speed, yet with such incredible precision.

I highly recommend this CD."