SWR
Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17
$28.99
Details
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Artist
- Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sudfunk-Chor, Alfreda Hod
- Format
- CD
- Label
- SWR
- Released
- Nov 21, 2025
- Catalog #
- SWR19167CD
- UPC
- 747313916788
About
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.
Tracklist 18 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 Part I: Introduction: Combats - Tumulte - Intervention du Prince 04:37
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part I: Introduction: Combats - Tumulte - Intervention du Prince
- Duration
- 04:37
- 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) 05:43
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part I: Choral recitative: D'anciennes haines endormies (Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, Chorus)
- Duration
- 05:43
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Performer
- Alfreda Hodgson, Philip Langridge
- Ensemble
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
3 Part I: Strophes: Premiers transports que nul n'oublie (Mezzo-soprano, Chorus) 06:21
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part I: Strophes: Premiers transports que nul n'oublie (Mezzo-soprano, Chorus)
- Duration
- 06:21
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Performer
- Alfreda Hodgson
- Ensemble
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
4 Part I: Recitative: Bientôt de Roméo la pâle rêverie (Tenor, Chorus) 00:23
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Bientôt de Roméo la pâle rêverie (Tenor, Chorus)
- Duration
- 00:23
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Performer
- Philip Langridge
- Ensemble
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
5 Part I: Scherzetto: Mab la messagère (Tenor, Chorus) 03:03
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part I: Scherzetto: Mab la messagère (Tenor, Chorus)
- Duration
- 03:03
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Performer
- Philip Langridge
- Ensemble
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
6 Part II: Roméo Seul - Tristesse - Bruit lointain de Concert et de Bal - Grand Fête Chez Capulet 07:32
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part II: Roméo Seul - Tristesse - Bruit lointain de Concert et de Bal - Grand Fête Chez Capulet
- Duration
- 07:32
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Ensemble
- Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
7 Part II: Fête 05:40
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part II: Fête
- Duration
- 05:40
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Ensemble
- Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
8 Part II: Scène d'amour: Ohé! Capulets, bonsoir! (Chorus) 03:20
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part II: Scène d'amour: Ohé! Capulets, bonsoir! (Chorus)
- Duration
- 03:20
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Ensemble
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
9 Part II: Scène d'amour 16:33
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Part II: Scène d'amour
- Duration
- 16:33
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Ensemble
- Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
10 Part II: Scherzo: La Reine Mab ou la Fée des Songes 08:04
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Part II: Scherzo: La Reine Mab ou la Fée des Songes
- Duration
- 08:04
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Ensemble
- Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
- Disc 2
-
1 Part III: Convoi funèbre de Juliette: Marche fuguée: Jetez des fleurs pour la vierge expirée! (Chorus) 10:27
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part III: Convoi funèbre de Juliette: Marche fuguée: Jetez des fleurs pour la vierge expirée! (Chorus)
- Duration
- 10:27
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Ensemble
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
2 Part III: Roméo au tombeau des Capulets 01:39
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part III: Roméo au tombeau des Capulets
- Duration
- 01:39
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Ensemble
- Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
3 Part III: Invocation - Réveil de Juliette - Joie délirante, désespoir, dernières angoisses et mort de deux amants 06:58
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part III: Invocation - Réveil de Juliette - Joie délirante, désespoir, dernières angoisses et mort de deux amants
- Duration
- 06:58
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Ensemble
- Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
4 Part III: Finale: La foule accourt au Cimetière - Rixe des Capulets et des Montagus: Quoi! Roméo de retour! (Chorus) 01:30
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part III: Finale: La foule accourt au Cimetière - Rixe des Capulets et des Montagus: Quoi! Roméo de retour! (Chorus)
- Duration
- 01:30
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Ensemble
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
5 Part III: Finale: Recitative: Je vais dévoiler le mystère (Le Père Laurence, Chorus) 02:49
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part III: Finale: Recitative: Je vais dévoiler le mystère (Le Père Laurence, Chorus)
- Duration
- 02:49
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Performer
- John Shirley-Quirk
- Ensemble
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
6 Part III: Finale: Aria: Pauvres enfants que je pleure (Le Père Laurence) 05:09
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part III: Finale: Aria: Pauvres enfants que je pleure (Le Père Laurence)
- Duration
- 05:09
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Performer
- John Shirley-Quirk
- Ensemble
- Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
7 Part III: Finale: Mais notre sang rougit leur glaive (Le Père Laurence, Chorus) 04:35
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part III: Finale: Mais notre sang rougit leur glaive (Le Père Laurence, Chorus)
- Duration
- 04:35
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Performer
- John Shirley-Quirk
- Ensemble
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini
-
8 Part III: Finale: Serment: Jurez donc par l'auguste symbole (Le Père Laurence, Chorus) 05:29
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part III: Finale: Serment: Jurez donc par l'auguste symbole (Le Père Laurence, Chorus)
- Duration
- 05:29
- Composer
- Hector Berlioz
- Performer
- John Shirley-Quirk
- Ensemble
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Stuttgart Südfunkchor, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
- Conductor
- Gary Bertini