Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Excerpts from Lélio

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
No one expected it, but Thomas has given us the greatest Symphonie fantastique since Charles Munch's Boston Symphony recordings of the '50s and '60s. Granted, he's a fine conductor with an excellent reputation, but every conductor has his "specialties," and Thomas has always leaned towards the Russian Romantics. Berlioz is very difficult to do well: you have to respond to the almost neurotic emotional climate and orchestral brilliance with seeming abandon, while never letting the performance spin out of control. That's exactly what Thomas does. His traversal of the symphony is fanatically detailed, sensationally played and recorded, and, above all, focused. He knows exactly where the music is going, and what a pleasure it is to let your ears follow his lead! --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: Reveries-Passions
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: Un bal/ A Ball
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: Scene In The Country
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: March To The Scaffold
Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: Dream Of A Witches' Sabbath
Lo Or The Return To Life, Op. 14bis: II. Chorus of the Shades
Lo Or The Return To Life, Op. 14bis: VI. Fantasia On Shakespear's 'The Tempest'

Amazon.com

No one expected it, but Thomas has given us the greatest Symphonie fantastique since Charles Munch's Boston Symphony recordings of the '50s and '60s. Granted, he's a fine conductor with an excellent reputation, but every conductor has his "specialties," and Thomas has always leaned towards the Russian Romantics. Berlioz is very difficult to do well: you have to respond to the almost neurotic emotional climate and orchestral brilliance with seeming abandon, while never letting the performance spin out of control. That's exactly what Thomas does. His traversal of the symphony is fanatically detailed, sensationally played and recorded, and, above all, focused. He knows exactly where the music is going, and what a pleasure it is to let your ears follow his lead! --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Lovely sounding recording, but the performance is neutral.......2006-06-26

The Gramohone gave an outright pan to this performance, ending with this comment: "One is tempted to wonder why, if Tilson Thomas can lay out the score so clearly and accurately, he does not then go ahead and perform it." This is a bracing alternative to the rave that this CD has gotten on Amazon from David Hurwitz and several reviewers below. MTT's Fantastique is very detailed nd recorded quite beautifully, but he remains very literal throughout. There's no reverie in the first movement, no lilt in the waltz of the second movement, a dead tempo in the third movement, noterror in the ride to the scaffold, and so on.

There are superb readings of the Symphonie fantastique from, among ohters, Colin Davis, Leonard Bernstein, Charles Munch, Igor Markevitch (all with two each, except for Bernstein, with three), Pierre Monteux, Leopold Stokowski--I'll stop there. Tilson Thomas's version is better than any of them so far as pure sound goes--except perhaps for Munch's famous 1954 Living Stereo version--but there's not enough imagination compared to the greats.

The attraction for Berlioz collectors will be the rarely recorded sequel to the symphony, Lelio, a "return to life" by the poet who fell into a dream-trance and experienced the haunted visions of the symphony. Here, MTT and the San Francisco Sym. Chorus are bolder and more colorful than in the main event, although I'm not sure many buyers would purchase this recording just for the filler.

Not inferior to classical musicians........2004-08-07

As a classical trombonist, I will go on record as saying the musicians do NOT struggle with any passage within the symphony. Tilson Thomas' rendering is as close to flawless as I have heard. By contrast, the brass in the "incomparable London Philharmonic" sound bright, weak and tinny, while the strings are far too erratic to call a polished performance! I would rate this recording ahead of the Montreal Symphony and on par with the Concertgebouw. I own close to 15 recordings of this work and this is, by far, the best

Fantastic performance.......2004-03-28

This is the definitive recording of Berlioz's famed Symphonie Fantastic. Michael Tilson Thomas leads the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra brilliantly in his incisive reading of the work. Several aspects make this recording rise above the hundreds of other recordings of the work. First of all, MTT has the orchestral forces playing both with total conviction and total control. The sense of emotion is electrifying, yet, the orchestra remains in perfect control from piano to forte. The balance between the different sections of the orchestra is also perfect. Secondly, MTT's reading of the work is well thought out, logical, and quite convincing. Rather than over-conduct, MTT allows the music itself to unfold naturally. The performance is never forced, never rushed; rather, the work is allowed to develop. Thirdly, the quality of the recording is top-notch. The crystal clear digital sounds makes this already electrifying recording a must have.

MTT is not given the due credit he deserves. Too often, the SFSO is over-looked. But over the past decade MTT has been doing wonderful things with his orchestra. What we have now is a world-class orchestra that still plays with total conviction, heart, dedication, and total faith in its music director. MTT's current Mahler project with the orchestra has brought the conductor back into the spotlight, but the truth of the matter is, MTT was and is one of the leading conductors of today. I suggest listeners turn to some of his other recordings. His Romeo and Juliet and Mahler 7th (both on RCA) are fantastic, as are the resent Mahler recordings on the symphonies own label.

Demonstration Class Performace and Recording.......2003-07-30

With this being the bicentennial of Berlioz's birth I've been on a mission to listen to as many versions of his famous "Symphonie Fantastique" that I can get my hands on. I must own at least 12 different versions. They all have their merits, but this recording with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony blew me away. It grips you from the start to finish. The orchestra plays with precision, emotion, and fire. The sound quality is truly in the demonstration class. My only disappointment (minor) is the omission of the obbligato cornets.

With the addition of highlights from "Lélio" this is truly a generous CD in both time value (75+ minutes) and content.

Highly recommended.

One of the very best.......2003-04-24

IMHO, this is one of the finest recent recordings of this magnificent work, second perhaps only to Mariss Jansons fantastic recording with the Concertgebouw on EMI. I was lucky enough to hear this conductor/orchestra pairing perform this piece live on tour a few years ago and can say that this recording lacks none of the emotional immediacy they are capable of live. To me this performance proves that the SFSO rightfully belongs among the finest virtuoso orchestras in the world. Few have recorded this piece with such stellar ensemble playing.

Note to Tina: if you read the score, Berlioz says that the bells are supposed to be placed 'derriere la scene' - behind the stage. Tilson Thomas's bells are not too sweet at all. They are how they should be. Most other conductors ignore that instruction unfortnately. The witches aren't dancing on the market square after all.

Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique, Excerpts from Lelio - Michael Tilson Thomas
Average customer rating:
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique, Excerpts from Lelio - Michael Tilson Thomas

Manufacturer: BMG Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000B6OY3W