Berlioz Carnevale Romano

Despite the efforts of conductors such as Roger Norrington and John Eliot Gardiner from the 1980s onwards, period instrument performances of Berlioz in general and the Symphonie Fantastique in particular are relatively rare on disc; currently, the only rivals to Jos van Immerseel's new version with his Bruges-based orchestra seem to be those by Gardiner and Norrington themselves. Immerseel's approach, his choice of tempi and phrasing, are relatively conservative – the account of the exuberant Roman Carnival overture is positively staid – but the raw edge that the period instruments bring to Berlioz's soundworld is often ­viscerally exciting, with a pair of ophicleides adding a feral growl to the brass bass lines.

Colin Davis is arguably the finest Berlioz conductor in the world; both of his recordings of Les Troyens are magnificent and elsewhere he's rarely bettered. His winning streak continues with this live performance with the LSO of Harold in Italy and the ballet music from Troyens. Tabea Zimmermann's solo viola is as grand, brilliantly flavorful, and picturesque as the LSO's playing; and the entire performance swift and rhythmically propulsive is simply fantastic.

Colin Davis’s 1969 recording remains a landmark event, the first time this grand opera of Meyerbeerian length, spectacular éclat and Wagnerian artistic ambition had found its way complete onto LP. It effectively changed views about Berlioz the opera composer and orchestral genius and has for many remained the yardstick by which all later performances have been judged. Although studio recorded, it was based on the Covent Garden casting of the day – Jon Vickers’s heroic Aeneas and Josephine Veasey’s voluptuous Dido – with a couple of Frenchmen to boost the ranks of lesser Trojans and Carthaginians…

Hector Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique & Le Carnaval Romain
Anima Eterna - Jos van Immerseel
EAC+LOG+CUE | WV: 252 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info [Repacked]
Label/Cat#: Zig Zag # ZZT100101 | Country/Year: France 2009
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic

…Elsewhere the whole kit of an old-instrument Fantastique – pungent brass timbres, shrieking clarinets, scary “bells” (the pianos) and death-march timpani – makes its mark. For its combination of unique orchestral size and recording quality, and overall Werktreu-ness, this new performance sits easily alongside, maybe even slightly ahead of, the other authentic contenders.

Colin Davis' Berlioz has in general tended to draw some rave reviews from the critics, and while I am not always in agreement with them, I have to admit that this is probably the best version of the sprawling and flawed but ultimately rather rewarding work available. His abilities to draw various color nuances - darker ones, in particular - from the orchestra, especially the wind section, are marvelous. The soloists are in general good, too, and overall this urgent reading should warrant a safe recommendation.