Comparing Berlioz with the Big Guys!

[jochanaan]

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

If you don't mind "historical sound," there's a classic recording by Monteux and the San Francisco Symphony from about 1950.  The sound is rather primitive but the interpretation and playing are as close to perfect as it comes.

But I wouldn't bother with the Colin Davis/Concertgebouw recording from the complete cycle.  It's strangely lifeless--doubly strange after his blazing Harold with the London Symphony, and all the other fine recordings in that set.

And yes, Berlioz is definitely a Big Guy.

[mikkeljs]

Uh, wrong thread, dude. 

Ups, how could I compare Berlioz with Boulez!? 

[(poco) Sforzando]

Ups, how could I compare Berlioz with Boulez!? 

Both start with a B and end with a Z, and have E, O, and L in common. (They were both born in roughly the same region of southeastern France.) Besides, Berlioz also often did many wrong calculations in his works, and sometimes he even made whole pieces based on a wrongly derived row.

[karlhenning]

Uh, wrong thread, dude. 

Wow.

It would be different, if he could tell the difference between the Battle of Borodino and a tiger's bum 

[karlhenning]

Besides, Berlioz also often did many wrong calculations in his works, and sometimes he even made whole pieces based on a wrongly derived row.

I like your sense of humor!

[knight66]

Wow.

It would be different, if he could tell the difference between the Battle of Borodino and a tiger's bum 

That is not exactly a high bar.

Mike