Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Lelio, Tristia

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Reveries

2. Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Un bal

3. Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Scene aux champs

4. Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Marche au supplice

5. Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Songe d'une nuit du sabbat

Disc: 2

1. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration

2. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Le Pecheur

3. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration

4. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Choeur d'ombres

5. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration

6. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Chanson de brigands

7. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration

8. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Chant de bonheur/Hymne

9. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration

10. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: La Harpe eolinne/Souvenirs

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Lélio is a strange work, a 50-minute piece for narrator, orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists. Written as a sequel to the Symphonie Fantastique, it weaves in the idée fixe theme of that work, and its monologues exude the hyper-Romantic sensibility of the lone artist haunted by his fantasies. The narrator's text today reads (and sounds) pretty silly but without it, Lélio becomes a miscellaneous collection of short pieces, each worth hearing, as is anything by Berlioz, but not adding up to more than a repertory curiosity. Tristia consists of three short works published together in 1852, but written separately between 1831 and 1844. The middle piece, "La Mort d'Ophélie," is better known in its original version for voice and piano. Here, a later version for chorus and orchestra is used. Tristia closes with a funeral march illustrating the last scene of Hamlet. Disc One is given over to a reissue of Dutoit's 1985 release of the Symphonie Fantastique, a warm performance that lacks the fantasy of older favorites like Munch and Paray, but is less strait-laced than classically oriented versions such as Colin Davis's. Berlioz fans will want the set for the lesser-known works; others may want to hear them in company with Dutoit's decently done Fantastique. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

Beatrice et Benedict
Benvenuto Cellini
Overtures: Le roi Lear, Op. 4
Les Francs - juges, Op. 3
Waverley, Op. 1
Le corsaire, Op. 21
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:

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.

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 ...

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...

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.

Amazon.com

Sir Colin Davis has long been considered the world's finest Berlioz conductor, and over the years, Philips has released all of the composer's major works with Davis at the helm. Now, they're all here, in a 24-CD box, and it is an astonishing achievement. This treasure trove consists of the definitive, available readings of Les Troyens, Béatrice et Bénédict, and Benvenuto Cellini; a wonderfully energetic, passionate Roméo et Juliette; a Te Deum which is huge yet clear and not over-the-top for its own sake; Les Nuits d'été with different singers (of varying ranges in different songs), as Berlioz wanted them performed; the young Dame Janet Baker superb in Herminie and La Mort de Cléopatre; a relaxed, sweet Enfance du Christ; a Requiem which could knock you over; a Damnation de Faust which is both lyrical and exciting; a performance of Lélio which almost makes sense of that strange work; a Symphonie Fantastiquewith atmosphere and thrills; along with 7 overtures, 5 songs, and more. In addition to the moderate price, the packaging is such that the 24 CDs takes up less space than just the earlier releases of Cellini and Troyens together. This is one-stop shopping at its best. --Robert Levine

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Lelio, Tristia

Average customer rating:

dutiots worst recording!
Reviewed in honor of Berlioz's 200th birthday

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Lelio, Tristia
Hector Berlioz , Charles Dutoit , Lambert Wilson , Richard Clement , Choeur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal , Orchestre symphonique de Montréal , Philippe Rouillon , Rolf Bertsch , and Jennifer Schwartz
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Hector Berlioz: Lélio oder Die Rückkehr ins Leben, Op. 14b (Lyrisches Monodram)
R. Strauss: Josephs Legende

ASIN: B00005N56S
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Tracks:

Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Reveries
Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Un bal
Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Scene aux champs
Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Marche au supplice
Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Songe d'une nuit du sabbat

Tracks:

Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Le Pecheur
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Choeur d'ombres
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Chanson de brigands
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Chant de bonheur/Hymne
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: La Harpe eolinne/Souvenirs
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Fantaisie sur la Tempete de
Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration and Coda
Tristia, op. 18: Meditation religieuse
Tristia, op. 18: La Mort d'Ophelie: Ballade
Tristia, op. 18: Marche funebre pour la derniere scene d'Hamlet

Amazon.com

Lélio is a strange work, a 50-minute piece for narrator, orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists. Written as a sequel to the Symphonie Fantastique, it weaves in the idée fixe theme of that work, and its monologues exude the hyper-Romantic sensibility of the lone artist haunted by his fantasies. The narrator's text today reads (and sounds) pretty silly but without it, Lélio becomes a miscellaneous collection of short pieces, each worth hearing, as is anything by Berlioz, but not adding up to more than a repertory curiosity. Tristia consists of three short works published together in 1852, but written separately between 1831 and 1844. The middle piece, "La Mort d'Ophélie," is better known in its original version for voice and piano. Here, a later version for chorus and orchestra is used. Tristia closes with a funeral march illustrating the last scene of Hamlet. Disc One is given over to a reissue of Dutoit's 1985 release of the Symphonie Fantastique, a warm performance that lacks the fantasy of older favorites like Munch and Paray, but is less strait-laced than classically oriented versions such as Colin Davis's. Berlioz fans will want the set for the lesser-known works; others may want to hear them in company with Dutoit's decently done Fantastique. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

dutiots worst recording!.......2007-04-11

this is the only recording of all Dutiot/Montreal cds that i didnt care for to much,he goes about the symphony in a very straightforward manner witch is unlike his style.though the choral works he does fine but there not first rate works to me.i still think eugene ormandys/phil symphony version is one of the best around.

Reviewed in honor of Berlioz's 200th birthday.......2003-12-19

Fellow Amazon reviewer Bob Zeidler has recently reviewed a number of Berlioz releases in honor of Berlioz's 200th birthday. I decided, particularly since I noticed that there had been no reviews of this mid-priced 2CD set, to say something about this issue from Charles Dutoit and l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, along with their chorus. Amazon lists several different issues of the 'Fantastique'by Dutoit and the Montréal but I think (but am not sure) they are all repackagings of his 1985 recording. I could be wrong. In any event, this current twofer contains the 1985 Symphonie fantastique on Disc 1 and some Berlioz rarities on Disc 2.

The performance of the Symphonie is one of my favorites of the perhaps eight versions that I own. No one will replace Munch, Colin Davis, or even Riccardo Muti, but this one has merits of its own. For one thing it was recorded when the Montreál was at the height of its considerable powers, The orchestra SOUNDS French, the recorded sound is exemplary, and I admire Dutoit's ability not only to thrill and stir us, particularly in the 'Songe d'une nuit du sabbat' and the 'Marche au supplice,' but even to move us, not something that usually happens with these sections which are generally played for their rock'em sock'em effects. There is a nightmare quality that grabs me each time I listen to them. I think Dutoit catches the early Romantic psychology of the piece as well as anybody, and better than most.

The other pieces are not really top-drawer Berlioz, honestly, but I think Dutoit gives a good account of Lélio and of Tristia nonetheless. The narrated text of Lélio is--how can I be kind?--silly, but fortunately there are separate cuts so that one can program the narration out if one wishes, and I suspect you will wish to do so after perhaps one listen to it. This is not to say that actor Lambert Wilson doesn't do his creditable best, but still ...

Tristia has some exquisite choral passages and the concluding Funeral March is one of Berlioz's most masterful compositions. The performances are wonderful. I have no other recordings of Tristia and can't compare it with others, but it's hard to imagine any performance being much better.

Recommended.

Tracks:

Ouverture - London Symphony Orchestra
No.2: Air-'Ah! Si De La Tendresse - Janet Baker
La Captive, Op.12 - Josephine Veasey
Resurrexit - Monteverdi Choir
IV. Marche Au Supplice - Pierre Boulez
II. Choeur D'Ombres - Lambert Wilson
IX. Sanctus - John Mark Ainsley
Ouverture - Nicolai Gedda
'Une Heur Encore' - Nicolai Gedda
'La Gloire Etait Ma Seule Idole' - Nicolai Gedda
III. Marche Funebre Pour La Derniere Scene D'Hamlet - Pierre Boulez

Tracks:

Marche Hongroise - Anne Sofie Von Otter
'D'Amour L'Ardente Flamme' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
'Au Son Des Trompettes' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
Chasse Royale Et Orage - Charles Dutoit
'Nuit D'Ivresse Et D'Extase Infinie!' - Jon Vickers
III. Serenade - Pinchas Zukerman
I. Villanelle - Regine Crespin
IV. La Reine Mab, Ou La Fee Des Songes (Scherzo) - London Symphony Orchestra
L'Adieu Des Bergers A La Sainte Famille: 'Il S'En Va Loin De La Terre' - Choeur De Montreal
IV. Christe, Rex Gloriae (Hymne) - London Symphony Chorus
Ouverture - John Alldis Choir
'Dieu Qui Guidas Nos Bras' - John Alldis Choir
'Approchez, Claudio!' - John Alldis Choir
'Ici L'On Voit Benedict' - John Alldis Choir
'L'Amour Est Un Flambeau' - John Alldis Choir

Track Listings:

Track Listings

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1. Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Reveries
2. Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Un bal
3. Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Scene aux champs
4. Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Marche au supplice
5. Symphonie fantastique, op. 14: Songe d'une nuit du sabbat

1. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
2. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Le Pecheur
3. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
4. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Choeur d'ombres
5. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
6. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Chanson de brigands
7. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
8. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Chant de bonheur/Hymne
9. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: Narration
10. Lelio, ou Le Retour a la vie, op. 14b: La Harpe eolinne/Souvenirs