Be my (French) valentine
J. BEILER | San Diego, CA | 02/13/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Granted, this recording of the "Symphonie fantastique" equals neither the heft of the much-praised Davis/Concertgebouw performance, nor does it imitate the madcap energy of Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. What we have here, with this recording by the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, is a somewhat alternative view of the work. Conductor Pinchas Steinberg's approach reveals a certain not inappropriate delicacy, even wistfulness, in the score. This symphony, after all, was inspired by Berlioz's unrequited love for an Irish actress. Romanticism relishes its pensive moments; it's not all "Sturm und Drang." And this more than acceptable budget recording will entice you with its rendering of the work's delicious passages. Listen to the less familiar third movement ("Scene in the Country," marked "Adagio") first, and you may forget this is Berlioz; the music so strongly reminds one of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. The chimes sing out sweetly in the final movement, and the timpani are clean and distinct. But the passion, while real, is cool and under control--quite French! You, like me, may find yourself returning frequently to this enticing performance--long after you've tired of the more noisy conceptions of the work."
Not Bad, Not Great
Samuel Stephens | TN, USA | 08/12/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"If you buy this on an impulse because of the price, it can do no harm. But it also won't convince you of Berlioz's greatness if it is your first encounter with him. The sound isn't great, but nothing too bad. My ultimate complaint is that is a tad too short. Steinberg drives the performance a little too fast, and there is very little fantasy that is part of Berlioz's trademark. A little pale in interpretation. Definitely don't buy it if you want to hear Berlioz for the first time, but as I say, the price probably won't hurt."
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1