Self-Recommending Set
Aronne | 04/02/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Philips has gathered Sir Colin Davis's analogue recordings of Berlioz's works into one boxed set. Most often, Philips prefers Davis's earlier recording if more than one has been made for them over the years.
---The Five Symphonies: Symphonie fantasique, Op. 14; Lelio, Op. 14b; Grand Symphonie funèbre et triomphale, Op. 15; Herold in Italy, Op. 16; and Romeo and Juliet, Op. 17
Each symphony is played very well, particularly Herold and Romeo and Juliet. In R&J the sense of passion Berlioz instilled in his music comes over most persuasively. Lelio is given a convincing performance, despite its bizarre structure (it begins with a song for tenor accompanied by the piano and ends with a symphonic poem for orchestra accompanied off and on by chorus and piano).
---Seven Overtures (all are here except the unpublished Rob Roy, which is a conglomeration of Herold in Italy and other things): Béatrice et Bénédict; Benvenuto Cellini; Le roi Lear, Op. 4; Les Francs-juges, Op. 3; Waverley, Op. 1; Le corsaire, Op. 21; Carnaval romain, Op. 9. I can note no deficiencies in the overtures. The analogue sound is always sufficient.
---Orchestral excerpts from Les Troyens: Prelude to Act 3, No. 29 Chasse royale et orage - Pantomime, No. 32 Marche pour l'entrée de la reine, No. 33 Ballets. These excerpts are enjoyable Berlioz show-pieces, particularly the Royal Chase and Storm, which here performed with the chorus, as is so vital in this piece. The performance may not be as electric as Beecham's (Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique), but it is still very admirable.
---Other Works: Rêverie et Caprice, Op. 8; Marche Funèbre pour la dernière scène d'Hamlet, No. 3 of Tristia, Op. 18; Marche hongroise & Menuet des follets, both from La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24. Though the Funeral March for Hamlet is taken a bit *too* slowly, the drama is still there. The other works are finely played.
Overall, Sir Colin Davis has done the world quite the favor in becoming such an advocate of Berlioz's music. His natural feel for the medium is very pleasant; this recording cannot be but commended. The Penguin Guide was right when it noted that "This bargain-priced collection of Sir Colin Davis's Berlioz recordings is self-recommending."
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Some of the best Berlioz available
J. Rich | 03/18/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You're not going to find a better Berlioz interpreter than Sir Colin Davis. Sure you might find a conductor who uses more radical tempos and so forth, but you won't find someone who is as detailed as Davis.
For those who haven't heard any Davis' readings, you're in for a real surprise. The surprise is in the rich detail of these readings. The same could be said about Davis' work for Sibelius, who is another composer he championed early on.
It really doesn't get much better than this set. I would also check out Davis' reading of Berlioz's "Requiem," which is without a doubt one of the best versions I've heard. Enjoy this fine music. Highly recommended."
