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Chandos

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Tempest Fantaisie / Davis, Toronto Symphony

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Details

Composer
BERLIOZ, HECTOR
Artist
Davis
Format
SACD
Label
Chandos
Released
Jul 05, 2019
Catalog #
CHSA 5239
UPC
095115523926

About

The Fantaisie sur la Tempete de Shakespeare was composed shortly after Berlioz had won the coveted Prix de Rome (at the fourth attempt) with his cantata Sardanapale, and was originally conceived as a concert overture, with chorus. After various reworkings of the material, the four-movement Fantaisie, as recorded here, became the finale of Berlioz’s ‘monodrama’ Lelio- a juxtaposition of existing material interlinked with dramatic monologues recited by the ‘artist’ at the center of the work. Symphonie fantastique, Berlioz’s best-known work by some distance, remains an evergreen in the orchestral repertoire, and beloved of audiences the world over. The idiomatic approach to orchestration, grounded in Berlioz’s musical training in French provincial wind-bands, and the revolutionary approach to the prevailing conventions of musical form at the time shine through in the five-movement masterpiece, which remains one of the most vividly programmatic symphonies ever written. This recording was made after a pair of performances in September 2018 in the Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, and is made in Surround Sound.

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REVIEW:

You might not think the world needs another reading of the Symphonie fantastique, but Davis' ease with the orchestra enables him to pull off a number of unusual orchestral effects. The real find here is the Fantaisie sur La Tempète de Shakespeare (Fantasy on Shakespeare's The Tempest). It is a charming collection of delicate orchestral displays complete with a choir singing words from The Tempest, or something like them, in Italian. The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir achieves special grace here, and this little performance is worth the price of admission.

– All Music Guide (James Manheim)

Tracklist 9 tracks

  1. 1 Prologue: Andante non troppo lento - 03:07
    Track
    1
    Title
    Prologue: Andante non troppo lento -
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Hector Berlioz
    Ensemble
    Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  2. 2 La Tempête: Allegro assai, ma primo poco ritenuto - 02:29
    Track
    2
    Title
    La Tempête: Allegro assai, ma primo poco ritenuto -
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Hector Berlioz
    Ensemble
    Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  3. 3 L'Action: Un poco meno mosso - Meno mosso - 06:51
    Track
    3
    Title
    L'Action: Un poco meno mosso - Meno mosso -
    Duration
    06:51
    Composer
    Hector Berlioz
    Ensemble
    Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  4. 4 Le Dénoument: Tempo I. Più animato con fuoco - Presto 01:57
    Track
    4
    Title
    Le Dénoument: Tempo I. Più animato con fuoco - Presto
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Hector Berlioz
    Ensemble
    Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  5. 5 I. Rêveries: Largo - Passions: Allegro agitato e appassionato assai 15:30
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Rêveries: Largo - Passions: Allegro agitato e appassionato assai
    Duration
    15:30
    Composer
    Hector Berlioz
    Ensemble
    Toronto Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  6. 6 II. Un Bal (Valse): Allegro non troppo 06:27
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Un Bal (Valse): Allegro non troppo
    Duration
    06:27
    Composer
    Hector Berlioz
    Ensemble
    Toronto Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  7. 7 III. Scène aux Champs: Adagio 16:00
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Scène aux Champs: Adagio
    Duration
    16:00
    Composer
    Hector Berlioz
    Ensemble
    Toronto Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  8. 8 IV. Marche au Supplice: Allegretto non troppo 06:44
    Track
    8
    Title
    IV. Marche au Supplice: Allegretto non troppo
    Duration
    06:44
    Composer
    Hector Berlioz
    Ensemble
    Toronto Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  9. 9 V. Songe d'une Nuit du Sabbat: Larghetto - Allegro 10:28
    Track
    9
    Title
    V. Songe d'une Nuit du Sabbat: Larghetto - Allegro
    Duration
    10:28
    Composer
    Hector Berlioz
    Ensemble
    Toronto Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis