Search - Hector Berlioz, Pierre Boulez, London Symphony Orchestra :: Symphonie Fantastique

Otherwise great album except for the Symphonie Fantastique

10/22/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What could have been a great Berlioz album for Pierre Boulez has been ruined with his recording of the "Symphonie Fantastique." The other selections, "Lelio,", selections from his operas, "Beatrice & Benedict," "Royal Hunt and Storm" from "Les Troyens," "La Mort de Cleopatre," "Les Nuits d'ete" and the overtures from "Benevenuto Cellini" and "Le Carnaval romain," are all otherwise very fine recordings (with the exception of "Le Carnaval romain," which is a little slack in tempo) especially "Lelio," which is the sequel to the "Symphonie Fantastique."First, the good part of the album. In addition to the musical portions of "Lelio," which were excellently performed and recorded, this recording features a prominent French actor, the late Jean-Louis Barrault, as the narrator (Lelio, or more accurately, Berlioz himself), and protagonist in Berlioz' "Episode in the Life of an Artist." Barrault provides very dramatic flair to bring alive the part of what many might consider a mentally-deranged individual, but this is part of what makes this work a classic example of the Romantic spirit that was Berlioz. Due to its unconventional performance requirements and its place in "Episode in the Life of an Artist," it is unfortunately a weak follow-up to the "Symphonie Fantastique." The London Symphony and Chorus were really up for this recording, and the soloists, John Mitchinson and John Shirley-Quirk are fine. "Lelio" is performed only extremely rarely, anywhere. To these ears, all-in-all, the best recording of "Lelio" ever made (and extremely few have been made). A shame that Sony didn't make available this recording of "Lelio" as a separate item from this multi-CD set.Boulez' recording of the "Symphonie Fantastique" is another matter. In addition to not being as well recorded as was "Lelio," his "Fantastique" performance is a poor companion to his performance of "Lelio." It is dull, and about fit for a Friday afternoon matinee performance where the audience is mainly elderly.The song cycle, "Les Nuits d'ete" are finely sung by Yvonne Minton and Stuart Burrows, with Boulez conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Minton sings the single solo part in Berlioz' cantata, "La Mort de Cleopatre."If you have the money, get this set only for the "Lelio" performance; you will find no other as fine as this. There are better recorded performances of the smaller pieces in this album, and the "Fantastique" is a total write-off."

Roman Carnival captures spirit!

rjm | maryland | 09/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must differ with the opinion of the writer of the other review of this album regarding the Roman Carnival Overture. It is easily the most exciting performance I've heard on disc. Especially towards the end, Boulez and the New York Philharmonic capture, with dash and verve, every quirky rhythmic and harmonic turn Berlioz concocts and the "pedal to the metal" drive to the finish simply can't be beat. I do agree with the other reviewer that the performance of the Symphonie fantastique is not a great one at all. You would definitely do better with the old standby Munch and Boston Symphony recording or the budget label recording with Cluytens and the Philharmonia Orchestra. Be that as it may, the very fine performance of Lelio and the other overtures more than makes up for the lack luster Symphonie fantastique. Boulez understands Berlioz's bipolarity and has a keen ear for bringing out the originality of his orchestration. Sad to say, few conductors these days capture these extremes in his music quite as Boulez did. I strongly recommend this collection if it ever becomes available again."