Berlioz Beecham [RB]: Classical CD Reviews- Apr 2003 MusicWeb(UK)

MusicWeb is not a subscription site and it is these advertisers that pay for it. Please visit their sites regularly to see if anything might interest you. Purchasing from them keeps MusicWeb free.

Classical Editor: Rob Barnett Founder Len Mullenger

BUY NOW

Crotchet AmazonUK AmazonUS

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
Symphonie Fantastique (1830) [52.25]
Le Corsaire Overture (1831) [7.59]
Les Troyens: Marche Troyenne; Chasse royale et orage (1859) [14.26]
Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française/Thomas Beecham
Beecham Choral Society
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomas Beecham
rec. 30 Nov - 1-2 Dec 1959, Salle Wagram, Paris (Symphonie); 7 Nov 1958 (Corsaire); 19 Nov 1959 (Marche); 23 Mar 1957 (Hunt), Studio No. 1, Abbey Road, London. ADD
Great Recordings of the Century series
EMI CLASSICS 7243 5 67971 2 3 [65.05]

Feathery fancies, terror, delightful unanimity, surreptitious and mysterious spirit; all these are here. This is not quite the hyper-drilled splendour of Szell's Cleveland but certainly it is viscerally stirring. You will not be short of illustrations. Try the urgency in track 1 at 08.53. In scène aux champs Beecham injects threat and tension into the fields; they shiver under louring clouds. The threat is made palpable in the marche au supplice which ends in a blaze and a volley of drums. Hearing this work again after a long break reminded me how much of a musical revolutionary Berlioz was. Compare his dates and those of Brahms and then compare their music. Berlioz’s temperament was much closer to the next century than Brahms ever achieved. Of course originality is not everything.

With yet fuller sound for the substantial 'extras' including a hectically exciting yet still precise Corsaire this disc is easily recommendable and not just to nostalgic collectors recalling their record buying days in the 1960s. It is a while since I have heard them but I would also recommend Frémaux's, Stokowski's and Paray's versions of the Symphony. For a more modern recording John Eliot Gardiner is reported to be well worth hearing.

The CD is generously timed; not something that can always be said of this series.

Beecham's chemistry works in the currency of racy fervour and accuracy with both the French orchestra and his own RPO. Easy to recommend. Recommended.
Rob Barnett
Great Recordings of the Century

Advertising Rates
Visitor stats
MusicWeb International
has over 21,000 Classical CD reviews on offer

Gerard Hoffnung Concerts &
The Bricklayer Story

New Releases

23rd-27th May

MusicWeb sells the Polish
catalogue CDAccord
£10.50 post free W-W

MusicWeb sells the
Arcodiva catalogue
£12.00 post free W-W

Price Reduction: £11.75
post-free

Bull Horn
Price comparison Website

MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues:
Prices include postage

[Acte Préalable £13.50]
[Arcodiva £12.00]
[Ashgate Music Books]
[Avie from £6.25]
[British Music Society £13.49]
[CDACCORD from £10.50 ]
[Hortus £14.99 ]
[Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ]
[Onyx £12.00 ]
[REDCLIFFE £11 ]
[Tactus £11.50 ]
[Talent from £12.00 ]
[Toccata Classics £12.50 ]

DISCS OF THE YEAR 2007


Return to Index

Reviews from previous months
Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details
We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board. Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer..

You can purchase CDs and Save around 22% with these retailers: