COMPOSERS: Berlioz
LABELS: Philips Duo (2 discs)
WORKS: Symphonie fantastique; Harold in Italy; Symphonie funèbre et triomphale
PERFORMER: Nobuko Imai (viola)John Alldis Choir, LSO/Colin Davis
CATALOGUE NO: 442 290-2 ADD (1963-75)
Colin Davis’s Berlioz cycle, a monument of the LP era, continues to sound well on CD through its intrinsically musical qualities: wide dynamic spectrum, intelligent balance, and the energy, tenderness and sure tempi of the premier Berlioz conductor of our time. The overtures sparkle, the symphonies run the gamut from the nostalgic to the grotesque. With the Symphonie funèbre and Harold there is no more satisfying version; alternatives for the Fantastique include two fine period-instrument recordings, but Davis is a must for any collection. Julian Rushton
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Harold in Italy; Symphonie funèbre et triomphale
Colin Davis’s Berlioz cycle, a monument of the LP era, continues to sound well on CD through its intrinsically musical qualities: wide dynamic spectrum, intelligent balance, and the energy, tenderness and sure tempi of the premier Berlioz conductor of our time. The overtures sparkle, the symphonies run the gamut from the nostalgic to the grotesque. With the Symphonie funèbre and Harold there is no more satisfying version; alternatives for the Fantastique include two fine period-instrument recordings, but Davis is a must for any collection. Julian Rushton
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:33 pm