Berlioz: Complete Orchestral Works [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Berlioz was the first Romantic master of the orchestra. His music hasn't been surpassed in terms of sheer brilliance and accuracy of effect. This set includes all of the overtures, the Symphonie fantastique, Harold in Italy, the Royal Hunt and Storm from Les Troyens, orchestral music from The Damnation of Faust and Romeo and Juliet, and the completely insane Grande Symphonie funebre et triumphale. Davis achieved his reputation as a conductor as a Berlioz specialist, and he proves an expert advocate on behalf of this stimulating, bizarre, and totally original genius. The recording quality, so critical in such colorful music, is also very good. --David Hurwitz

Berlioz: Complete Orchestral Works, Music, Sir Thomas Allen [baritone], John Shirley-Quirk, Roy Jowitt, Hector Berlioz, Edo de Waart, Sir Colin Davis, Renata Scheffel-Stein, John Constable, José Carreras, Robert Tear, Denis Wick, Nobuko Imai, Arthur Grumiaux, Box Sets (Audio Only), Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Concerto, French Romantic Opera, Opera, Orchestral, Orchestral & Symphonic, Orchestral Music, Romantic Overture for Orchestra, Secular Choral Music with Orchestra, Secular Music for More One Soloist, Chorus and Instr, Symphonic, Symphony, Violin Concerto
Berlioz: Complete Orchestral Works
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • I am in a Box with Berlioz Box Sets
  • A superb set, well worth the price!
  • all the overtures *NOT*
  • A wonderful collection of Berlioz
 Berlioz: Complete Orchestral Works

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by BerliozAll Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
OverturesOvertures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
Allen, ThomasAllen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
RomancesRomances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
FrenchFrench | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ChorusesChoruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ClassicalClassical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
Bargain Box SetsBargain Box Sets | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
Bargain Box SetsBargain Box Sets | Opera & Vocal General | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Opera & Vocal General | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Liszt: Works for Piano and Orchestra
  2. Strauss: Orchestral Works
  3. Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies
  4. Grieg: Complete Music with Orchestra
  5. Debussy, Ravel: Orchestral Works

ASIN: B0000041MZ
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

  1. Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 1. Rries, Passions (Largo - Allegro agitato ed appassinonato assai)
  2. Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 2. Un bal (Valse: Allegro non troppo)
  3. Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 3. Sc aux champs (Adagio)
  4. Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 4. Marche au supplice (Allegretto non troppo)
  5. Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 5. Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat (Larghetto - Allegro- Ronde du Sabbat: Poco menu mosso)
  6. Tristia, Op 18 (excerpts): 3. Marche fune pour la derni sc d'Hamlet (Allegretto moderato)
  7. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24 (excerpts): Menuet des follets
  8. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24 (excerpts): Marche hongroise

Tracks:

  1. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 1. Le peur (Goethe, Duboys)
  2. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 2. Choeur d'ombres (Berlioz)
  3. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 3. Chanson de brigands (Berlioz)
  4. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 4. Chant de bonheur (Berlioz)
  5. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 5. La harpe ienne - Souvenirs
  6. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 6. Fantasie sur la Temp de Shakespeare (Berlioz)
  7. Grande Symphonie fune et triomphale, Op. 15: 1. Marche fune (Moderato un poco lento)
  8. Grande Symphonie fune et triomphale, Op. 15: 2. Oraison fune (Adagio non tanto - Andantino un poco lento e sostenuto)
  9. Grande Symphonie fune et triomphale, Op. 15: 3. Apothe (Allegro non troppo e pomposo)

Tracks:

  1. Harold en Italie, Op.16: 1a. Harold aux montagnes (Adagio)
  2. Harold en Italie, Op.16: 1b. Harold aux montagnes (Allegro)
  3. Harold en Italie, Op.16: 2. Marche des prins (Allegretto)
  4. Harold en Italie, Op.16: 3. Snade (Allegro assai - Allegretto)
  5. Harold en Italie, Op.16: 4. Orgie de brigands (Allegro frenetico - Adagio - Allegro, Tempo I)
  6. Les Troyens arthage: Prelude From: Les Troyens arthage: Part II, Act III
  7. Les Troyens (Act IV): No. 29: Chasse royale et orage - Pantomime
  8. Les Troyens (Act IV): No. 32: Marche pour l'entrde la reine; No. 33: Ballets
  9. Les Troyens (Act IV): -A: Pas des Alm
  10. Les Troyens (Act IV): -B: Danse des esclaves
  11. Les Troyens (Act IV): - C: Pas d'esclaves nubiennes
  12. Rrie et Caprice, Op.8

Tracks:

  1. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Introduction
  2. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Prologue: 'D'anciennes haines endormies'
  3. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Strophe 1: 'Premiers transports que nul n' oublie'
  4. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Strophe 2: 'Heureux enfants aux coers de flamme'
  5. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Rtatif et Scherzetto: 'Bientot de Romeo' - 'Mab! la messagere' - Bientot la mort est souveraine'
  6. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part II, Romseul - Tristesse - Concert eet bal
  7. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part II, Grande f chez les Capulets
  8. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part III, 'Ohe! Capulets! Bonsoir, bonsoir!'
  9. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part III, Sc d'amour

Tracks:

  1. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Scherzo: La reine Mab ou la fdes songes
  2. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Convoi fune de Juliette: 'Jetez des fleurs pour la vierge expiree!'
  3. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Romau tombeau des Capulets
  4. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Finale. Choeurs et Rtatif du P Laurence: 'Quo! Romeo de retour!'
  5. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Finale. Air du P Laurence: 'Pauvres enfants que je pleure' - 'Mais notre sang rougit leur glaive'
  6. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Finale. Serment de rnciliation: 'Jurez donc'

Tracks:

  1. Beatrice et Benedict
  2. Benvenuto Cellini
  3. Overtures: Le roi Lear, Op. 4
  4. Les Francs - juges, Op. 3
  5. Waverley, Op. 1
  6. Le corsaire, Op. 21
  7. Carnaval romain, Op. 9

Amazon.com

Berlioz was the first Romantic master of the orchestra. His music hasn't been surpassed in terms of sheer brilliance and accuracy of effect. This set includes all of the overtures, the Symphonie fantastique, Harold in Italy, the Royal Hunt and Storm from Les Troyens, orchestral music from The Damnation of Faust and Romeo and Juliet, and the completely insane Grande Symphonie funebre et triumphale. Davis achieved his reputation as a conductor as a Berlioz specialist, and he proves an expert advocate on behalf of this stimulating, bizarre, and totally original genius. The recording quality, so critical in such colorful music, is also very good. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars I am in a Box with Berlioz Box Sets.......2004-02-22

First I ordered Hector Berlioz Complete Orchestral Works (Box Set) in a 6-CD set by Sir Colin Davis because orchestral is what I like best. That was in 2002. Now I have ordered The Berlioz Edition (Box Set)in a 24-CD Box Set by Sir Colin Davis because I like what I have heard of Berlioz by Davis. I will put this up for sale, and if it doesn't go I will consider putting The Berlioz Edition up for sale after I have heard it. As I said I am in a Box with Berlioz Box Sets and can't afford both.

5 out of 5 stars A superb set, well worth the price!.......2002-08-16

For those of us who grew up in the 1950s and '60s, the music of Berlioz means Munch and Toscanini: Munch for his incendiary performances of "Symphonie Fantastique," "Romeo et Juliette," "Damnation of Faust," the Requiem and the overtures (among others), Toscanini primarily for his gorgeous reading of "Harold in Italy" but also for his versions of the Roman Carnival Overture and (for those who could find it) the "Romeo" with Gladys Swarthout. These readings had one thing going for them, which was a rhythmic impetus that made even the slow movements exciting. Unfortunately, for those of us who read scores, when we checked these versions against the music we found that Toscanini and Munch had fiddled a bit with tempi and bowing accents in an attempt to make the music more exciting. Is this so bad? Not necessarily, because these conductors had this music in their blood, they were presenting Berlioz as they had processed him over a lifetime of love, and so their fast tempi had little in common with the rattly, jangly readings often turned out by John Eliot Gardiner.

Sir Colin Davis was, and of this reading remains, the greatest Berlioz interpreter of the stereo/digital era. This is no mean feat when one realizes that he now has several competitors in the field, among them James Levine and Charles Dutoit, but in my view only the wonderful John Nelson (whose recordings of the Te Deum and "Nuits d'Ete" with Susan Graham are so wonderful) really comes close. And what makes Davis so great is that, like those legendary conductors of old, he really gets under the skin of Berlioz and makes him exciting while maintaining score tempi. Listen, for instance, to his "Symphonie Fantastique," still the benchmark modern recording after nearly 30 years. Davis also excels in his readings of the Overtures, music from "Les Troyens," and the Symphonie Funebre et Triomphale which grabs the listener and pulls him/her into its vortex of sound.

In the other two symphonies, "Harold in Italy" and "Romeo et Juliette," I sense a lapse of sorts: the slow music is conducted not necessarily too slowly, but with a certain Romantic mushiness bordering on easy listening. This, for me, robs the "Romeo alone" and "Scene d'amour" of its passion, though of course it is wonderful to hear the score in modern stereo instead of Munch's cramped mono, and for me Toscanini's second movement of "Harold," with its peculiar yet engaging walking gait, shall never be surpassed--and, unlike Munch, Toscanini somewhat transcended his mono sound because of the wonderful clarity and transparency of his orchestra. Nevertheless, if I were forced to I would live with this Davis set over my Munch and Toscanini recordings because of their overall warmth and excellent sound.

Other highlights include excerpts from "Lelio" sung superbly by pre-leukemia Jose Carreras (listen to him ascend fearlessly to those high notes--he hasn't done that in nearly a quarter-century!), dramatically astute singing by Patricia Kerns and John Shirley-Quirk in "Romeo," and marvelous interpretations of the Overtures (oh, and you can forget "Rob Roy"...Berlioz decided after one performance that he would never publish it or even bother revising it, hence it is not here). I do question the omission of the Requiem and Te Deum (after all, they ARE "orchestral works"), but with so many riches at such a low price, who cares? Liner notes are sparse, and this is a slimline box which means paper sleeves and no jewel boxes, but so what? For this much Berlioz, so beautifully sung and conducted, the composer himself would gladly have plunked down ...

4 out of 5 stars all the overtures *NOT*.......2001-05-04

This isn't a "complete" recording of Berlioz' orchestral music - what about the 'Rob Roy' overture? Granted it recycles some of Harold in Italy, but still...

5 out of 5 stars A wonderful collection of Berlioz.......2000-08-15

This incredible six CD set features all of Hector Berlioz's purely orchestral music conducted by the great Sir Colin Davis, widely regarded as one of the greatest living Berlioz interpreters. In addition to favorites such as Symphonie fantastique, Harold en Italie and Romeo et Juliette, the set also includes the lesser known Lelio and several other works. The works were recorded between 1965 and 1980, and the sound is wonderful and rich. His interpretations are also lively and full of energy, especially in the overtures.

The Romeo et Juliette included in this set is my favorite of all the recordings of it that I've heard, although I haven't yet heard Sir Colin's more recent recording with the Vienna Philharmonic. The recording of Lelio is also well done. Jose Carreras and Thomas Allen are the featured singers in Lelio's song movements, and the fantasy on Shakespeare's Tempest at the end of the work is fascinating indeed. If you've only heard Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique and want to hear more of his works, or are looking for a nice collection of classic Berlioz recordings, then take a good look at this set.

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