B. Goren. Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 (edited) In general, I like the music of the French composers, but where do I start with Berlioz??? Edited November 4, 2010 by B. Goren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Symphonie Fantastique - of course! There's a magnificent Boulez recording on DG and several by Colin Davis, most recently on LSO Live. The Boulez is in fantastic sound and comes with a generous filler. Of his operas and other large scale works the obvious thing is to go for Les Troyens (The Trojans) which is the biggest of the bunch and the best. Again, two Colin Davis versions, the more recent on LSO Live. Davis did most of Berlioz for Philips and then more recently for LSO Live. The Philips stuff might be harder to come by now; the LSO Live is all in print, many works are in a Centenary Box, and others are on SACD. Not everyone gets on with the LSO Live acoustic from London's Barbican and I suggest sampling before making a big commitment. The Philips sound is good but dated. Berlioz is very rewarding and once you start you'll want to push on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Goren. Posted November 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Thanks David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Check Berlioz Requiem. Grande Messe des Morts. You'll get an earful when you listen to it. Favorite version I heard (a long time ago) was Charles Munch on DGG! Munch brought fire to that music! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Goren. Posted November 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Thanks brownie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spontooneous Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Do not miss "Nuits d'ete." Really. Don't miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Goren. Posted November 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Do not miss "Nuits d'ete." Really. Don't miss it. Thanks Spontooneous, I promise not to miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Do not miss "Nuits d'ete." Really. Don't miss it. I was going to flag that up. I've never really 'got' Berlioz (more to do with a general blank on the mid-19thC) but Les Nuits d'ete is gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 If want to hear the Symphonie fantastique in the sound that Berlioz heard, try this: Several instruments in the orchestra that are not common anymore that make for a drastically different sound, like ophicleides ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomsMobley Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 Benvenuto Cellini, if not necessarily this production, which isn't uninteresting but... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnblitweiler Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 Don't miss "The Damnation of Faust." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 (edited) Don't miss "The Damnation of Faust."Best recording I know is this one:http://www.amazon.com/Berlioz-Damnation-Faust-Hector/dp/B00000I9WV/ref=sr_1_11?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1440007135&sr=1-11&keywords=faust+monteux"Damnation" is, in effect (or so I thought at one time), the first motion picture. Edited August 19, 2015 by Larry Kart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 If want to hear the Symphonie fantastique in the sound that Berlioz heard, try this: Several instruments in the orchestra that are not common anymore that make for a drastically different sound, like ophicleides ... This one is even better, I had the pleasure of attending a live performance of this orchestra with this piece, an overwhelming experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomsMobley Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 thanks for the heads up, MW-- I'd not heard that Les Siecles Fantastique and I'd probably take Gardiner over Immerseel, whom I generally find too tame, much as I appreciate what's he's trying.per Roth-- messe per Gardiner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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