Search - Hector Berlioz, Yoav Talmi, San Diego Symphony Orchestra :: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

Musical Masterpiece Of Terror

Erik North | San Gabriel, CA USA | 03/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the history of recording, there have been literally dozens and dozens of recordings of Hector Berlioz's monstrous masterpiece "Symphonie Fantastique", a work that is arguably the first musical masterpiece of terror. Given such a crowded field, what can another recording offer today?Judging by the performance given here on Naxos by Yoav Talmi and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, plenty! With the recording quality as high as it is, and the recording itself very well priced, this version of Berlioz's nightmarish masterpiece has much to show, including the piece de resistance, the "Witches Sabbath" in the fifth movement, with the use of the ancient chant "Dies Irae" ringing out in the trombones (a chant that would find its way into the music of such chilling movies as A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, THE SHINING, and POLTERGEIST).For me, there have been only two recordings of this much-covered masterpiece that have really captured Berlioz's disturbing visions: the 1959 recording by the Detroit Symphony under Paul Paray (on Mercury Living Presence); and Sir Colin Davis' explosive 1974 recording with the Concertgebouw Orchestra (on Philips). But this one by the SDSO and Talmi is very much up there in such lofty company. And given this orchestra/conductor combination's other Berlioz recordings in recent years, one cannot go wrong with this one."

This would not be my first choice.

Edward J. Lada | Norman, OK | 06/30/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I only bought this recording because I was preparing for an audition with the San Diego Symphony and wanted to get some idea of their sound ahead of time. Artistically, the interpretation is fairly good. However, there were noticeable intonation problems in isolated places. Also, as a brass player I was slightly disappointed with the - how to put it - lack of horsepower from the brass. For a better recording either look for the Cleveland recording with Pierre Boulez or the Montreal recording with Dutoit, depending on whether you prefer the lighter, more brilliant sound of Cleveland or the dark, powerful sound from Montreal. Both are fabulous recordings."