Hector Berlioz

[Dancing Divertimentian]

If he programmes a Grande Messe, I will know he really has lost Le Plot.

Ha! Indeed.

[zamyrabyrd]

After a long hiatus, I reread the Memoirs of Hector Berlioz, all 500 pages, and listened to various works including Harold in Italy 10x after downloading the score. Anyone else doing Berlioz these days?

ZB

[Karl Henning]

Not presently, but I am always ready to return to Berlioziana 

[zamyrabyrd]

Not presently, but I am always ready to return to Berlioziana 

Thanks to IMSLP, stuff that would have escaped while only listening to Harold, the downloaded score revealed a very tight structure and economy of means. Paganini recognized it as a work of genius, even if most people, in particular, the French, thought HB a nutcase. The 20,000 francs he gave to Berlioz as payment for the commission to write a concerto for viola was indeed a worthy tribute.

Paganini praised HB as the inheritor of Beethoven that even today might seem goofy. However, the Pastorale Symphony must have been an influence on that and the Symphonie Fantastique. In the Memoirs, (an excellent translation from 1935) Berlioz does mention Beethoven's unconventional use of percussion. I thought of Tschaikovsky while listening to the build up of tension in the last movement where the violins rise to an ostinato trill of sorts and then the brass comes booming in.

[North Star]

Seeing Damnation this week 

Yeah, Berlioz is "my" early-romantic composer (besides Liszt and Schubert), just so damn awesome. He's really the guy, started doing crazy shit with the instrumentation and originated modern French-ness 

Berlioz is never less than fantastic.
Are you familiar with Rameau's operas?

[North Star]

On fire today? 

Rameau is one of "my" baroque composers  I'm familiar with his instrumental works more than his vocal/opera works tbh but I've heard a few of his operas, they're quite varied from what I have heard.


Actually the whole French thing (as French music, art/film and culture) are a big thing for me, and is an interesting lineage!

Very good. And yes, it sure is that.

[Pat B]

. . . prompted me to search anew, and I found a reasonably-priced Used—Like New copy of the Pierre Boulez Edition Berlioz box!

I saw that Sony set at a local store at a pretty good price. I already have all of the included repertoire so my decision rests on whether Boulez is interesting enough here to add it. Any thoughts?

[Biffo]

If you already have the works in other performances I wouldn't bother. I bought the Symphonie fantastique coupled with Lelio years ago when it was first issued on LP. It is interesting but not a first choice by a long way. If you want Boulez conducting Berlioz go for his DG recordings with vastly better sound though probably a lot more expensive. His DG recording of Les nuits d'ete is interesting for the allocation of singers, not the usual ones, but fine performances and an alternative way of hearing the work.

[Pat B]

If you already have the works in other performances I wouldn't bother. I bought the Symphonie fantastique coupled with Lelio years ago when it was first issued on LP. It is interesting but not a first choice by a long way. If you want Boulez conducting Berlioz go for his DG recordings with vastly better sound though probably a lot more expensive. His DG recording of Les nuits d'ete is interesting for the allocation of singers, not the usual ones, but fine performances and an alternative way of hearing the work.

Thanks. It's still a bit of a temptation but you have helped me resist it.

[Karl Henning]

I saw that Sony set at a local store at a pretty good price. I already have all of the included repertoire so my decision rests on whether Boulez is interesting enough here to add it. Any thoughts?

I was mostly reaching for a Lélio.  I enjoy the set, but agree that it does not generally outperform 

[Biffo]

I was mostly reaching for a Lélio.  I enjoy the set, but agree that it does not generally outperform 

On the rare occasions I listen to Lelio complete I go for Martinon but I don't know how accessible it is now. I have it as a two disc set with the symphony (one of my favourite versions), not sure of its availability, and also in the Martinon Icon box set. The musical content alone is available from Sir Colin Davis on Philips  (or whatever it is branded as nowadays).

[Karl Henning]

On the rare occasions I listen to Lelio complete I go for Martinon but I don't know how accessible it is now. I have it as a two disc set with the symphony (one of my favourite versions), not sure of its availability, and also in the Martinon Icon box set. The musical content alone is available from Sir Colin Davis on Philips  (or whatever it is branded as nowadays).

Interesting; but really, I am content with the Boulez.

[Pat B]

I was mostly reaching for a Lélio.  I enjoy the set, but agree that it does not generally outperform 

Thanks. More resistance!

I have Martinon's Lelio and more recordings of the Fantastique than any sane person needs (but fewer than some folks). My interest was more for the vocal works on CD 2 and maybe the Fantastique if it's distinctive. What I really ought to do is remind myself whether I like Minton's voice...

[mjmosca]

May I suggest a classic recording of Les Nuits d'ete? The one with Regine Crespin and L'orchestre de la Suisse Romande lead by Ernest Ansermet. Recorded in the 1960's in fine stereo- it is simply the most gorgeous realization imaginable! Also, with an equally surpassing Scheherezade of Ravel. Unforgetable performances. This is Crespin at her matchless best!

Hope you enjoy this!

The place to kick off your shoes and discuss all things Berlioz!

To be honest, I spent the better part of my listening career avoiding Berlioz. It took a chance encounter five years ago in my car to change all that.

The piece was the starlit Les Nuits D'été. Stopped me dead in my tracks.

What first struck me about the piece was its unorthodox construction. Seemed kinda 'loose' compared to some of the more stricter classical forms. Though before long I jettisoned any preconceptions about form and took to basking in the wondrous sounds.

Not to mention as I listened on an overarching sense of architecture began to take shape. What first appeared formless began to take on perfect symmetry. And I've come to enjoy this quality most in Berlioz: his "formlessness" begets the most dizzying of architectural designs.

Been a fan ever since.

[Spineur]

Couldnt agree more with this 11yo post of DD.  I have collected a number of nuits d'été, but not a single one matches Crespin and Ansermet.  The name "Decca legendary performance" serie is in this rare case  completly justified.  50 years later, still unsurpassed

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[aligreto]

Couldnt agree more with this 11yo post of DD.  I have collected a number of nuits d'été, but not a single one matches Crespin and Ansermet.  The name "Decca legendary performance" serie is in this rare case  completly justified.  50 years later, still unsurpassed

[asin]B00000JXZ4[/asin]

I do not know that one; I will have to investigate it. Thank you for posting it 

[Mirror Image]

I do not know that one; I will have to investigate it. Thank you for posting it 

I don't know the Berlioz performance, but that performance of Ravel's Shéhérazade is absolutely in a class of its' own.

[aligreto]

I don't know the Berlioz performance, but that performance of Ravel's Shéhérazade is absolutely in a class of its' own.

Thank you for your endorsement. The disc in now in my Wish List.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Last week or so i have been repeatingly listening to Harold in Italy. For whatever reason this piece has not caught on as a warhorse. The opening starts with a chorus of contrabasses, bassons, and then the viola comes in with one of the great melodies that Berlioz wrote. I think it is just as interesting a work as anything Berlioz wrote.

The Lincer/Bernstein recording is pretty amazing for its clarity, and execution, probably one of the best recorded from Lenny's NYPO days. The only other recording I have (I think ) is the Primrose/Munch and I don't remember being overwhelmed by it.

Anyone else really like this work? What are some of your favorite interpretations?

[North Star]

Last week or so i have been repeatingly listening to Harold in Italy. For whatever reason this piece has not caught on as a warhorse. The opening starts with a chorus of contrabasses, bassons, and then the viola comes in with one of the great melodies that Berlioz wrote. I think it is just as interesting a work as anything Berlioz wrote.

The Lincer/Bernstein recording is pretty amazing for its clarity, and execution, probably one of the best recorded from Lenny's NYPO days. The only other recording I have (I think ) is the Primrose/Munch and I don't remember being overwhelmed by it.

Anyone else really like this work? What are some of your favorite interpretations?

Colin Davis with both Nobuko Imai (Philips) and Tabea Zimmermann (LSO Live) is very good. But Tamestit / Minkowski is special - and has the most clarity of these, too. One of my favourite Berlioz works for sure.
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