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All the soloists are excellent, and thoughtful casting among the four baritones and bass-baritones has allotted the Israelite father to Matthew Brook, who brings just that touch of extra warmth... — More…
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Berlioz: La damnation de Faust
Karen Cargill (mezzo-soprano), Bryan Hymel (tenor), Christopher Purves (baritone), Gábor Bretz (bass)
London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Guildhall School Singers, Tiffin Children's Chorus, Tiffin Girls' Choir, Tiffin Boys' Choir, Sir Simon Rattle
The work and its style – especially the virtuosity and panache required – have clearly remained in the orchestra’s collective memory…Overall it’s a tightly organised and carefully paced achievement... — More…
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The magical art of the transcriber clearly lives on in the French capital: just listen to the Prokofiev Toccata and your jaw is guaranteed to drop in amazement! — More…
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Offer, Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24
Edith Mathis (soprano), Stuart Burrows (tenor), Donald McIntyre (bass), Thomas Paul (bass), Judith Dickinson (solo in Dans le ciel)
Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Boston Boys’ Choir & Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa
This is quite the most exciting Faust I have heard on record, putting even Solti at least a touch in the shade. — More…
Berlioz: Grande Messe des Morts, Op. 5 (Requiem)
Barry Banks (tenor)
London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus & London Philharmonic Choir, Sir Colin Davis
The St Paul's acoustic is something to be reckoned with...and it is striking to observe how careful Davis is to allow for the famous echo...There's some lovely orchestral detail...The chorus... — More…
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Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17
Recommended
Olga Borodina (mezzo-soprano), Kenneth Tarver (tenor), Evgeny Nikitin (bass)
London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus & Guildhall School Singers, Valery Gergiev
Gergiev, in this live account, inclines towards operatic fire and pace, occasionally headlong, but with a clarity and hushed, atmospheric pianissimo finely captured by the spacious SACD recording. — More…
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[Cargill] has a remarkably beautiful voice, full of sunny delicacy and warmth but also capable of Wagnerian dramatics...Ticciati's chamber forces do make a difference from the sound we're used... — More…
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Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette
Sasha Cooke (mezzo), Nicholas Phan (tenor), Luca Pisaroni (bass-baritone)
San Francisco Symphony & San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Michael Tilson Thomas
There is much to admire: buoyant energy, sparkling lightness (in the Queen Mab Scherzo), mostly well-balanced textures and acceptable if not quite native French. Yet after one hearing I felt... — More…
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Berlioz: L'Enfance du Christ, Op. 25
Recommended
Véronique Gens (Marie), Alastair Miles (Herod/Ishmaelite Father), Yann Beuron (Narrator), Stephan Loges (Joseph)
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Robin Ticciati
Beuron, still probably France's finest lyric tenor, a compelling Recitant with open, ardent tones and warm delivery...Miles is a splendidly anguished but restrained Herod and benign Ishmaelite,... — More…
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Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini
Gregory Kunde (Cellini), Laura Claycomb (Teresa), Darren Jeffery (Balducci), Andrew Kennedy (Francesco), Isabelle Cals (Ascanio), John Relyea (Pope Clement VII), Peter Coleman-Wright (Fieramosca), Jacques Imbrailo (Pompeo)
London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
The combination of technology and the conductor's unimpaired élanmakes for glowing textures and shattering climaxes. — More…
