Lyon National Orchestra & Leonard Slatkin - Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique (2015) [Official Digital Download 24/192]

Immensely influential, the remarkable Symphonie fantastique was composed while Hector Berlioz was suffering an intense and unreciprocated passion for the Irish actress Harriet Smithson. Its autobiographical tale describes a young musician’s opium-poisoned nightmares of jealous despair and fatal justice following the murder of his beloved. Berlioz wrote a second movement cornet solo into a subsequent revision of the score, here included as an optional extra. He wed his sweetheart actress but, recuperating in Nice, wrote Le corsaire after the final breakup of their marriage.

“Slatkin may not be a celebrated or 'authentic' Berlioz interpreter, but his polished, traditional approach isn't negligible. His reading is somewhat monumental, but not cripplingly slow…and beautifully detailed…excellent playing and recording still gives this disc a respectable place in a crowded market.” (BBC Music Magazine)

“one of its admirable qualities is the lucidity of playing that responds well to the particular palette of sonorities that Berlioz envisaged…the performance has its merits in precision and in some dramatic explosions, but as a whole tends to run a somewhat literal course rather than being imaginatively brought to life.” (Gramophone Magazine)

“If this new Berlioz coupling is representative of what the orchestra will be delivering in the future then we can look forward to some fabulous releases…[Slatkin's] in control - of course he is - but he’s just the catalyst and he serves the music admirably. This is a really affectionate, elegant version that utilises all the powers of a modern symphony orchestra in full flight…I struggle to think of a version that offers better playing. An absolute winner.” (MusicWeb International)

Tracklist:
1. Le corsaire, Op. 21 08:06
2. I. Reveries: Largo - Passions: Allegro agitato e appassionato assai 14:37
3. II. Un Bal (Valse): Allegro non troppo 06:38
4. III. Scene aux Champs: Adagio 17:20
5. IV. Marche au Supplice: Allegretto non troppo 07:01
6. V. Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat: Larghetto - Allegro - 03:31
7. V. Dies irae - 01:57
8. V. Ronde du sabbat - 02:51
9. V. Dies irae et Ronde du Sabbat (ensemble) 01:49
10. Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: II. Un Bal (Valse): Allegro non troppo (version with cornet obbligato) 06:43

Personnel:
Orchestre National de Lyon
Leonard Slatkin, conductor

Recorded at the Auditorium de Lyon, France, on 31st August and 1st September, 2011
Produced and engineered by Tim Handley

Digitally remastered