Blind Comparison: Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique

[Sergeant Rock]

My belated congratulations to Monkey Greg and Daniel for conducting the Comparison. It was both fun and enlightening in so many ways. I appreciate their patience...and endurance    The only finalist who surprised me (I mean, as far as who it was) was C4. I would never have guessed Solti. It definitely played against stereotype.

Versions I would have enjoyed seeing in the competition: Davis LSO (which I once thought preferable to the Concertgebouw recording--now I'm convinced otherwise); Gardiner (would he have survived longer than Norrington and Immerseel?); and one or more of the Karajans.

Sarge

[xochitl]

i just heard the witches' sabbath with karajan/bpo ['75] and i'm pretty impressed

really had no idea he ever came near this music

[Sergeant Rock]

i just heard the witches' sabbath with karajan/bpo ['75] and i'm pretty impressed

really had no idea he ever came near this music

He's one of the few German conductors to touch the piece: four recordings: one with the Philharmonia, two in Berlin, one in Paris. I only own the 75 Berlin.

Sarge

[MishaK]

He's one of the few German conductors to touch the piece: four recordings: one with the Philharmonia, two in Berlin, one in Paris. I only own the 75 Berlin.

Sarge

I think the more interesting German conductor to hear in this piece actually is Kempe. There's an old 60s EMI recording with him conducting BPO. Really atmospheric and not such a Karajanized orchestral sound.

[TheGSMoeller]

I think the more interesting German conductor to hear in this piece actually is Kempe. There's an old 60s EMI recording with him conducting BPO. Really atmospheric and not such a Karajanized orchestral sound.

That's one that interests me.

[MishaK]

I lied. 1959.

I think these are the same recording:

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=309676

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=60381