Search - Hector Berlioz, André Cluytens, Carlo Maria Giulini :: Berlioz: Symphony Fantastique, Op.14/Romeo And Juliet, Op.17/la Damnation De Faust, Op.24

You get what you pay for

William Ellis | 01/28/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This recording of Symphonie Fantastique is full of pedestrian tempos and less-than enthustiastic playing. For a much superior recording, pick up the Philadelphia Orchestra recording with Muti conducting. That is a much better value, and the recording is still budget. The excerpts from Damnation of Faust are about the same. The sluggish tempo of the March destroys its effect and the Dance never really gets dancing. The Romeo & Juliet is by far the best portion of this CD and I don't really have any particular complaints about it. If you want to pay four bucks for a good recording of the Love Scene from Romeo and Juliet, this is your chance. Aside from that, look elsewhere."

Great Music At Any Price!

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 05/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The original EMI Seraphim budget CD line has to be the greatest value for the money in the history of music. For half the price of other so-called budget lines, including the new version of EMI Seraphim and the Sony Essential Classics series, you get first-rate performances from the golden age of stereo by some of the greatest conductors of the century. On this particular title you get a brilliant Berlioz "Symphonie Fantastique" by Andre Cluytens. Sure it was a crowded field when Cluytens' version was first released in the late 50s, but it turns out that this was when the great performances of the century were made. The recordings by Munch, Paray, van Beinum, Markevitch, Beecham, Argenta and Cluytens are still referred to as among the best recordings nearly fifty years later. For my money the only decent Fantastique after the 1960s is by Colin Davis. But we're not done yet, because on this disc you also get beautifully played excerpts from "Romeo and Juliet" and "La Damnation de Faust" by Giulini and Barbirolli respectively. With all that great music, you've got a classic disc at any price."

A terrific bargain

Alan Majeska | Bad Axe, MI, USA | 11/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Seraphim's release of Andre Cluytens Berlioz SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE with the Philharmonia Orchestra is a terrific bargain! For under $5.00, the listener gets a great recording of Berlioz revolutionary 1830 symphony, actually a tone poem/Tableux in 5 movements, very different from the symphonies Beethoven was writing just 15 years prior. Cluytens takes a Romantic view of the symphony, and his excellence in French music shines: paired with London's Philharmonia orchestra, the results are excellent.



Giulini's Chicago ROMEO AND JULIET excerpts are also highly recommendable; my only gripe is that all of them aren't included in this recording. However, we must be thankful for what IS offered here.



Almost anything conducted by Sir John Barbirolli (1899-1970) is recommendable in many circles (save for his Dvorak Symphonies, which are compromised by inferior sound, according to reviews I've read in AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE), and these excerpts from "Le Damnation de Faust" are no exception. Very fine playing and interpretations, although he keeps the reins in for the "Rackokzy March", but the music is racous enough without going "over the top."



Over 70 minutes of music for under $5.00, well recorded and played. Recommended.

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