Hector Berlioz

[B. Goren.]

In general, I like the music of the French composers, but where do I start with Berlioz???

Edited November 4, 2010 by B. Goren.

[David Ayers]

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!

[B. Goren.]

Thanks David.

[brownie]

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!

[B. Goren.]

Thanks brownie.

[Spontooneous]

Do not miss "Nuits d'ete." Really. Don't miss it.

[B. Goren.]

Do not miss "Nuits d'ete." Really. Don't miss it.

Thanks Spontooneous, I promise not to miss it.

[A Lark Ascending]

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.

[mikeweil]

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 ...

[MomsMobley]

Benvenuto Cellini, if not necessarily this production, which isn't uninteresting but...

[johnblitweiler]

Don't miss "The Damnation of Faust."

[Larry Kart]

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

[mikeweil]

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!

[MomsMobley]

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