Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Ete, La Captive, Le Jeune Patre Breton / Eleanor Steber

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Eleanor Steber's 1954 recording of Les Nuits d'été, brilliantly conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos, has long been famous, and now sounds better than ever in this superbly remastered recording. The music fits her voice beautifully, and although her French is not idiomatic, her power and conviction must sweep all reservations aside. Steber's singing of the three Berlioz songs is equally fine—I was especially moved by Le jeune pâtre breton.

The “sacred arias“ selections recorded in 1951, when Steber's voice was shiningly pure, have a charmingly Victorian flavor to them, and they are sung with impeccable diction. There is no better recording of the Creation aria in the catalog.

As with the other entries in the Masterworks Heritage series, the album is a feast for the eyes as well as the ears, but it is a pity that no texts and translations were included, especially of the Berlioz material.

-- James Camner, FANFARE [1/1997]


Product Description:


  • Catalog Number: SONY 62356


  • UPC: 074646235621


  • Label: Sony


  • Composer: Felix Mendelssohn, Franz Joseph Haydn, George Frideric Handel, Hector Berlioz, Johann Sebastian Bach


  • Conductor: Dimitri Mitropoulos, Jean Paul Morel, Max Rudolf


  • Orchestra/Ensemble: Columbia Symphony Orchestra


  • Performer: Eleanor Steber



Works:


  1. Les nuits d'été, Op. 7

    Composer: Hector Berlioz

    Ensemble: Columbia Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Eleanor Steber (Soprano)

    Conductor: Dimitri Mitropoulos


  2. La captive, Op. 12

    Composer: Hector Berlioz

    Ensemble: Columbia Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Eleanor Steber (Soprano)

    Conductor: Jean Paul Morel


  3. Le jeune pâtre breton, Op. 13 no 4

    Composer: Hector Berlioz

    Ensemble: Columbia Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Eleanor Steber (Soprano)

    Conductor: Jean Paul Morel


  4. Zaïde, Op. 19 no 1

    Composer: Hector Berlioz

    Ensemble: Columbia Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Eleanor Steber (Soprano)

    Conductor: Jean Paul Morel


  5. Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, BWV 68: no 2, Mein gläubiges Herze

    Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

    Ensemble: Columbia Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Eleanor Steber (Soprano)

    Conductor: Max Rudolf


  6. Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21: no 3, Seufzer, Tränen, Kummer, Not

    Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

    Ensemble: Columbia Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Eleanor Steber (Soprano)

    Conductor: Max Rudolf


  7. Messiah, HWV 56: I know that my redeemer liveth

    Composer: George Frideric Handel

    Ensemble: Columbia Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Eleanor Steber (Soprano)

    Conductor: Max Rudolf


  8. The Creation, H 21 no 2: And God said... With verdure

    Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn

    Ensemble: Columbia Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Eleanor Steber (Soprano)

    Conductor: Max Rudolf


  9. Elijah, Op. 70: Hear ye, Israel

    Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

    Ensemble: Columbia Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Eleanor Steber (Soprano)

    Conductor: Max Rudolf