Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op.14

[Larry Rinkel]

Ormandy is great, but, oddly, cuts a few bars in the last movement.

If we're talking about Ormandy's Scheherazade, I remember a big cut near the end of the third movement, but can't recall anything cut in the fourth. I'm sure of the third movement cut, because that was the version our family owned when I was a kid, and when I first got a score and heard the movement complete it took me a while to get used to it.

[karlhenning]

If choosing between Gardiner and Norrington, go with Gardiner. Norrington sleepwalks through the piece. But there are modern instruments versions much better than either.

Just wanted to say that I did not mean to seem to endorse the Norrington (if it hath so seemed).  My impression at the time was simply a new view of the Berlioz, and as my ears were in those days, this did me the service of hearing the Symphonie fantastique afresh.

[MishaK]

If we're talking about Ormandy's Scheherazade, I remember a big cut near the end of the third movement, but can't recall anything cut in the fourth. I'm sure of the third movement cut, because that was the version our family owned when I was a kid, and when I first got a score and heard the movement complete it took me a while to get used to it.

Sorry, that's what I meant. Third, not fourth.

[PerfectWagnerite]

If we're talking about Ormandy's Scheherazade, I remember a big cut near the end of the third movement, but can't recall anything cut in the fourth. I'm sure of the third movement cut, because that was the version our family owned when I was a kid, and when I first got a score and heard the movement complete it took me a while to get used to it.

I thought that was a bad edit....

[karlhenning]

Ormandy had scissor-happy fingers, the piker.

[Haffner]

Solti's 1958 Rheingold?

How good is this performance, O?

[MishaK]

How good is this performance, O?

Excellent, really. It's part of his seminal Ring. It was the first of the four to be recorded.

[Sergeant Rock]

I would steer clear of Norrington. Mind you, I have only heard his first effort with whatever that English band of his was, London Classical Players or whatever.

I've done more than just hear it...I've lived with it for 18 years. Norrington's is still my favorite version of this symphony for reasons I'll detail later once I get my thoughts together.

Josh, Gardiner is definitely the safer bet--emphasis on safe--but if you want to hear something that sounds truly radical and different, you'll need to experience Norrington's Fantastique. There's nothing else like it.

Sarge

[Steve]

Anyone familar the Maazel?

I would post the image, but this is a school pc, and it simply will not behave!

http://www.amazon.com/Berlioz-Symphonie-Fantastique/dp/B000026H2A/ref=sr_1_4/002-8511684-6309615?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1177614577&sr=8-4

[MishaK]

Josh, Gardiner is definitely the safer bet--emphasis on safe--but if you want to hear something that sounds truly radical and different, you'll need to experience Norrington's Fantastique. There's nothing else like it.

It's also nothing quite like Berlioz's score.

Anyone familar the Maazel?

I would post the image, but this is a school pc, and it simply will not behave!

http://www.amazon.com/Berlioz-Symphonie-Fantastique/dp/B000026H2A/ref=sr_1_4/002-8511684-6309615?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1177614577&sr=8-4

Alas, no. That is one of the few fantastiques that I haven't gotten my paws on quite yet. I meant to hear Maazel conduct the work with NYPO at the end of last season, but I unexpectedly had to move and thus had to give my tickets away.

[Sergeant Rock]

Anyone familar the Maazel?

Yes, I own it. It was one of my first CD purchases, in fact: number 11. I like it but more for the sound of the recording (great early Telarc effort) and the brilliance of the Cleveland Orchestra (particularly the brass) than for anything Maazel does. Maybe I'm being too harsh. It's been awhile since I last heard it.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

It's also nothing quite like Berlioz's score.

Which just might be the ticket for Josh. He claims he doesn't like the symphony! So, let's give him something completely different

Sarge

[DavidW]

Gosh, I do enjoy the Munch/BSO reissues.  Tolerating them is no effort at all.

Yup that's my keeper, perhaps the best in town?  Whatever it is, it's darned good.

[MishaK]

Yup that's my keeper, perhaps the best in town?  Whatever it is, it's darned good.

I guess that depends on what town you mean. 

[val]

To me Beecham recorded the best version. Powerful, with a great tension but also elegance.

In second place I would consider Paray with Detroit, with a faster tempo and a fabulous articulation.

[Wanderer]

The two recordings of Berlioz's masterpiece that have impressed me the most over the years are Markevich conducting the Orchestre Lamoureux de Paris and Jansons conducting the Berlin Philharmonic at the 2001 Europa concert in Constantinople (on DVD).

[Que]

I have another Markevitch recording - the first ever to leave me with a very favourable impression of this piece!



Symphonie fantastique by Berlioz
Berliner Philharmoniker

Jeux d'enfants by Georges Bizet
Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux

Q

[Steve]

The two recordings of Berlioz's masterpiece that have impressed me the most over the years are Markevich conducting the Orchestre Lamoureux de Paris and Jansons conducting the Berlin Philharmonic at the 2001 Europa concert in Constantinople (on DVD).

That Jansons recording with the BPO - is it available on CD?

[Hector]

For some reason Americans do not like Norrington so, if you are American, opt for Gardiner but I think, good as he is, Norrington is a must.

Beecham's FNRO is as close to a period instrument band as you are ever, now, likely to get as they were still in possession of that unique French sound (the horns vibrato the obvious indicator) and the discipline to match.

Try Argenta's Paris Conservatoire recording from, roughly, the same period.

Both sound pretty good, still.

Paray is different altogether. He moulded his brilliant Detroit band into the French orchestra of his dreams. Not for repeated listening but worth the occasional airing.

Incidentally, Beecham, as usual, cuts, in this case the 1st movement repeat.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Excellent, really. It's part of his seminal Ring. It was the first of the four to be recorded.

I am not in love with some of the gimmicks in terms of sound effects they used in that recording. But the recording is excellent by any standards. The opening E-flate pedal is so deep, rich, and natural, it has never been better.