Berlioz – Alto CD

Berlioz: L’Enfance du Christ

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:46:18 +0000

Financial Times’ Disc of the Year; New York Times’ CDs of the Year
“Performance: ***** Recording: ***** ‘Beuron, probably today’s finest lyric tenor, gives the performance an essential idiomatic core in his narration … [Tenebrae are] dramatically alert and glowing as stained glass, the angelic messages skin-pricklingly ethereal.” (BBC Music Magazine) “[Sir Colin’s] revisitation of this truly classic score is utterly and totally compelling.’ (International Record Review)

Disc 1 [41:04]

1. Part I, Le Songe d’Hérode: Prologue – 1:53

2. Scene 1 – Marche Nocturne 8:25

3. Scenes 2 & 3 – Toujours Ce Rêve! 8:49

4. Scene 4 – Les Sages de Judée 3:33

5. Scene 4 – Les Devins Font Des Évolutions 1:27

6. Scene 4 – La Voix Dit Vrai, Seigneur 4:11

7. Scene 5 – O Mon Cher Fils 8:20

8. Scene 6 – Joseph! Marie! 4:22

Disc 2 [55:28]

1. Part II, La Fuite en Égypte: Ouverture 6:25

2. L’adieu des Bergers a la Sainte Famille (The Shepherds’ Farewell) 4:32

3. Le Repos de la Sainte Famille (The Holy Family At Rest) 6:39

4. Part III, L’Arrivée à Saïs: Depuis Trois Jours 3:33

5. Scene 1 – Dans Cette Ville Immense 5:25

6. Scene 2 – Entrez, Pauvres Hébreux 7:36

7. Scene 2 – Trio for Two Flutes and Harp 6:23

8. Scene 2 – Vous Pleurez, Jeune Mère 4:27

9. Epilogue – Ce Fut Ainsi Que Par un Infidèle 3:08

10. Epilogue – O Mon Âme 7:16

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique / Shepherds’ Farewell / Romeo & Juliet (exc)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:55 +0000

“Berlioz’s greatest interpreter of modern times recorded it three times, but this most recent version is the most gripping and satisfying, deftly treading a fine line between self-revelation and self-indulgence. The volcanic outpourings of feeling are as intense as they should be, yet in the quieter moments – Davis achieves a wonderfully expressive pianissimo, in which every detail seems to convey meaning’ (Gramophone)

[1] Shepherds’ Farewell (L’Enfance du Christ, Op.25)* 4:33
[2] Romantic Excerpt (Romeo et Juliette, Op.17) 7:20
Scene 1c – “Premiers transports que nul n’oublie!”
Symphonie Fantastique Op.14/H48 [57:10]
[3] I. Rêveries – Passions 15:49
[4] II. Un Bal 6:35
[5] III. Scène aux champs 17:16
[6] IV. Marche au supplice 7:01
[7] V. Songe d’une nuit de sabbat 10:27

Berlioz: Harold in Italy Op.16, & Overtures: Benvenuto Cellini; Beatrice et Benedict; Royal Hunt and Storm

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:58 +0000

“Yet again Sir Colin Davis demonstrates his supreme mastery as a Berlioz interpreter … especially fascinating is to compare this latest Harold en Italie with earlier versions – the biggest contrast is the extra tautness of Davis’s interpretation, with speeds consistently faster … the textures are sparer, sharper and lighter – bringing extra incisiveness all round. One other benefit is that the magnificent Tabea Zimmermann, is balanced as part of the orchestra. The beauty of her tone, with its nut-brown colours on the C-string, is never masked, but the balance allows pianissimi of a delicacy never achieved by the 1975 version. In the introduction there is a repeat marked ‘pianissimo possibile’ – just what you hear in magic tones.” (Gramophone)

Harold en Italie [40:14]

5. Overture: Benvenuto Cellini 10:08
6. Overture: Béatrice et Benedict 8:10
7. Les Troyens: Act IV-29 – Chasse Royale et Orage 9:10

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:36:13 +0000

The incomparable Sir Charles Mackerras leads the Royal Philharmonic in a supercharged recording of Berlioz’s most popular work. Also includes Berlioz’s most popular short works conducted by Yuri Simonov and Alexander Gibson

Hector Berlioz

1 – Le Carnaval romain, Op.9
2 – Benvenuto Cellini – Overture
3 – The Damnation of Fausdt, Op.24 – Rákóczy March

Symphonie fantastique, Op.14

4 — I. Rêveries – Passions
5 — II. Un bal
6 — III. Scène aux champs
7 — IV. Marche au supplice
8 — V. Songe d’une nuit du Sabbat

Mastered for alto by Paul Arden-Taylor, Dinmore Records
Licensed from MAT Music Team