Comparing Berlioz with the Big Guys!

[Josquin des Prez]

but where did Berlioz come from?

Beethoven, quite obviously, and Carl Maria von Weber!

[some guy]

Gluck

[quintett op.57]

Beethoven took cues from late Mozart and lessons from Haydn, certainly, but where did Berlioz come from? Is it because he never learned piano that the man literally wrote the book on orchestration?

Maybe you're exaggerating a bit. If we hadn't had the London Symphonies before, it would probably have been a bit more difficult for Hector to reach such achievement.

Of course, Berlioz is a giant!

How many mediocre pieces has he composed?

[quintett op.57]

no chamber music, no concerto

He wrote a sextet called "Le Chant Sacré" for wind instrument. It's the 1st work ever written for saxophone, every instrument having been invented by Adolphe Sax, his friend.
Unfortunately, the score was lost.
Some early works for winds and strings has been lost as well.

"Rêverie & Caprice" can be regarded as a concerto, more than "Harold"

[Daverz]

I was introduced to this work by a performance on an old Nonesuch LP, licensed from a French label. Though I do not listen to it terribly often, it is a recording that invariably causes jaws to drop (including my own, even after all these years).

Desire Dondeyne's second recording.  That was released on CD by Calliope. 

http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/908872
http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=12;3;19;-1&sku=621403

A highly recommendable disc of French wind band music.

The first Dondeyne recording is here:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/8176266?rk=classic&rsk=hitlist

[Daverz]

I've given the Fantastique several opportunities in different performances, but have never been particularly impressed.

I'm not impressed that you're not impressed.

But then I'm a fantastique fanatic.

[Brian]

I'm not impressed that you're not impressed.

But then I'm a fantastique fanatic.

Me too. I only have three recordings of it, Muti, Talmi and Norrington (SWR). Where should I head next?

[Daverz]

Me too. I only have three recordings of it, Muti, Talmi and Norrington (SWR). Where should I head next?

I'd suggest one of Bernstein's recordings and one of Munch's.  For example:



I can't vouch for the sound of the above Munch hybrid SACD.  The transfer I have in the older 8-CD Munch Berlioz box is a little muddy sounding in places, but still OK.  The Munch/Boston recording from the early 60s has clearer sound.  It was reissued in the newer 10-CD Munch Berlioz box.  Here's an earlier issue of it, and here's a later issue coupled with a wonderful Romeo & Juliet in stereo (also included in that 10-CD box).



Also, you can download an Lp rip of Mitropoulos here.

Even Klemperer is pretty good.  I was disappointed by the Tilson Thomas.

[The new erato]

Desire Dondeyne's second recording.  That was released on CD by Calliope. 

Yes, great; but the REALLY outstanding work on that disc is the Dionysiaques by Florent Schmitt, pity that the CD remaster of the LP is relatively weak, the LP is a reference sound recording (I have both).

[Lethevich]

Gluck

+ Mehul

[knight66]

Here is a good website about him. http://www.hberlioz.com/

I recommend David Cairns' writings about him; he is incapable of dullness.

Berlioz was born at a small town called La Côte Saint-André. I have sung in the Damnation of Faust there.

For me he is one of the greats.

Mike

[Josquin des Prez]

Gluck

And before him, Handel!

[Brian]

I'd suggest one of Bernstein's recordings and one of Munch's.  For example:

I can't vouch for the sound of the above Munch hybrid SACD.  The transfer I have in the older 8-CD Munch Berlioz box is a little muddy sounding in places, but still OK.  The Munch/Boston recording from the early 60s has clearer sound.  It was reissued in the newer 10-CD Munch Berlioz box.  Here's an earlier issue of it, and here's a later issue coupled with a wonderful Romeo & Juliet in stereo (also included in that 10-CD box).

Also, you can download an Lp rip of Mitropoulos here.

Even Klemperer is pretty good.  I was disappointed by the Tilson Thomas.

Thanks, mate! Will explore some of these.  

[Florestan]

Last Friday I've been attending my first live Damnation of Faust and I was enthralled.

It's not a matter of comparing him with the big guys because he is one of the big guys.

[knight66]

I have just found this on Youtube. It is Jessye Norman with Ozawa singing from Damnation of Faust. I recall this being broadcast live and thought at the time that I could not imagine this being sung better. She recorded the Faust arias for Phillips, but for some reason they have never been issued.

Part 1  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PPAIqVyaZ4

Part 2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4pSaXhvo5U&feature=related

Mike

[MN Dave]

It is Jessye Norman with Ozawa singing from Damnation of Faust.

I didn't know Ozawa could sing.

[knight66]

Evidently then there are several things you don't know.

Mike

[MN Dave]

Evidently then there are several things you don't know.

Mike

You're on to me.

[mikkeljs]

I have been talking with a pianist, who know Boulez very well. She have been sitting with him and analysed a lot of his pieces note by note!

She told me, that Boulez often did many wrong calculations in his works, and sometimes he even made whole pieces based on a wrongly derived row... Is that a wellknown fact?

[jochanaan]

I have been talking with a pianist, who know Boulez very well. She have been sitting with him and analysed a lot of his pieces note by note!

She told me, that Boulez often did many wrong calculations in his works, and sometimes he even made whole pieces based on a wrongly derived row... Is that a wellknown fact?

Uh, wrong thread, dude.