Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17

$28.99
Label
SWR
Release Date
November 21, 2025
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Hector Berlioz
    • PERFORMER
      Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sudfunk-Chor, Alfreda Hod
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      November 21, 2025
    • UPC
      747313916788
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      SWR19167CD
    • LABEL
      SWR
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Orchestral & Symphonic
    Works ⌄

    1. Part I: Introduction: Combats - Tumulte - Intervention du Prince

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    2. Part I: Choral recitative: D'anciennes haines endormies (Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, Chorus)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Performer: Alfreda Hodgson, Philip Langridge

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    3. Part I: Strophes: Premiers transports que nul n'oublie (Mezzo-soprano, Chorus)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Performer: Alfreda Hodgson

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    4. Part I: Recitative: Bientôt de Roméo la pâle rêverie (Tenor, Chorus)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Performer: Philip Langridge

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    5. Part I: Scherzetto: Mab la messagère (Tenor, Chorus)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Performer: Philip Langridge

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    6. Part II: Roméo Seul - Tristesse - Bruit lointain de Concert et de Bal - Grand Fête Chez Capulet

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    7. Part II: Fête

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    8. Part II: Scène d'amour: Ohé! Capulets, bonsoir! (Chorus)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    9. Part II: Scène d'amour

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    10. Part II: Scherzo: La Reine Mab ou la Fée des Songes

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    11. Part III: Convoi funèbre de Juliette: Marche fuguée: Jetez des fleurs pour la vierge expirée! (Chorus)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    12. Part III: Roméo au tombeau des Capulets

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    13. Part III: Invocation - Réveil de Juliette - Joie délirante, désespoir, dernières angoisses et mort de deux amants

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    14. Part III: Finale: La foule accourt au Cimetière - Rixe des Capulets et des Montagus: Quoi! Roméo de retour! (Chorus)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    15. Part III: Finale: Recitative: Je vais dévoiler le mystère (Le Père Laurence, Chorus)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Performer: John Shirley-Quirk

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    16. Part III: Finale: Aria: Pauvres enfants que je pleure (Le Père Laurence)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Performer: John Shirley-Quirk

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    17. Part III: Finale: Mais notre sang rougit leur glaive (Le Père Laurence, Chorus)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Performer: John Shirley-Quirk

      Conductor: Gary Bertini

    18. Part III: Finale: Serment: Jurez donc par l'auguste symbole (Le Père Laurence, Chorus)

      Composer: Hector Berlioz

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

      Performer: John Shirley-Quirk

      Conductor: Gary Bertini


When 23-year-old Hector Berlioz saw Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" on stage for the first time in 1827, he was deeply moved by the experience, probably not least because of the Irish actress Harriet Smithson, who played Juliet. She became Berlioz's wife in 1833, and another six years later he completed his chorus-symphony "Romeo et Juliette", Op. 17. "Romeo et Juliette" is by no means intended as an attempt to transpose Shakespeare's drama as faithfully as possible; not a single verse of Shakespeare's text was included in the libretto, which was written by the poet emile Deschamps based on Berlioz's drafts. When the Prologue refers to Shakespeare as the only person who knew the highest secret of poetry, it is clear that the listener is deliberately placed in Berlioz's perspective, whose imagination is ignited by Shakespeare's genius. As in the case of the "Harold" symphony based on Byron, Berlioz adapts the original very freely. In both cases, he develops entire movements from episodes that are of only minor importance in the poem and adds scenes that do not appear there at all. The present live recording from 1982 showcases Gary Bertini at the peak of his career, conducting the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra of the SWR. An exquisite cast of singers - Alfreda Hodgson, Philip Langridge and John Shirley-Quirk - as well as internationally renowned choirs like the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks and the SWR Vokalensemble (known until 1998 as Sudfunk-Chor) accompany him in the performance of one of the most complex symphonic works of the Romantic era.