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Subtitles: PAL - German, English, Dutch; NTSC - English, Japanese “This production was the sensation of the 1999 Salzburg Festival, and this riveting DVD captures most of the excitement that must have been felt at the time in the evocative Felsenreitschule. The staging is a joint venture. The spectacular scenic realisation of Berlioz's 'Légende dramatique' originated with the Spanish theatre troupe La Fura dels Baus; the staging itself is the work of Olle and Pedrissa. The sets and costumes were conceived by the Spanish sculptor Jaume Piensa.
The results were described in the press as 'extreme theatre' – and one can see why when viewing the virtuoso treatment of the vast stage area. It's dominated by a transparent cylinder which serves all sorts of purposes, depicting in particular the soul-searching struggles of Faust and Méphistophélès; while the complex choral movements and an elaborate lighting plot are all carried out without a hint of a hitch.
The producer certainly managed to inspire all the participants to heights of interpretative skill.
Cambreling and the Berlin Staatskapelle perform with discipline and fire, wanting only that extra dedicated vision evinced by Colin Davis and the LSO on CD. Kasarova and Willard White, stage beings to their fingertips, sing and act with total conviction. Kasarova is the vulnerable, insecure, beautiful Marguerite to the life, every gesture and facial expression supporting her intense reading of the glorious music Berlioz wrote for her. Her vision of the great Romance is idiosyncratic to say the least, but a triumph of erotic communication on its own account, a cross between Callas and Ewing at their most individual. White is commanding throughout – at once demonic, cynical, relaxed and satirical, his huge voice absolutely in command of the role. Groves isn't quite on his colleagues' level of accomplishment, but acts and sings with the awe and sense of identity-seeking which this production requires of its Faust. The sound, as on most DVDs, is exemplary. Highly recommended.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust
Consuelo Rubio, Richard Verreau, Michel Roux, Pierre Mollet Elisabeth Brasseur Choir · Chœur Enfants · R.T.F. · Orchestre Lamoureux, Paris · Berliner Philharmoniker, Igor Markevitch “The names of the soloists may not be familiar to everyone nowadays (Richard Verreau, Michel Roux and Consuelo Rubio) but with the Lamoureux Orchestra and Elisabeth Brasseur Choir under Igor Markevitch, this is an unusually satisfying and exciting version of Berlioz's "dramatic legend".” Gramophone Magazine, September 2007 | | | Usually despatched in 8 - 10 working days. |
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“Gardiner brings out the daring originality of Berlioz's visionary inspiration and draws hugely spirited, yet refined playing from his period-instrument band. Exemplary sound and balance, too.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | |
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“The score's leading champion of the past 40-odd years, Sir Colin Davis's performances range from his student days to his return to the symphony as the LSO's president. A choice is like Paris confronted with five Helens, but the Concertgebouw recording greatly influenced our understanding of the rough Berlioz sound in the last two movements.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2007 | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | |
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| | | |  | Instrument of the Devil
Rachel Barton (violin) Patrick Sinozich (piano) | | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Victoria de los Angeles
“When Victoria de los Angeles appeared at the Edinburgh Festival in 1957, she was in her prime, the voice as supple and sensitive as it was beautiful. Everything she tackled seemed to be touched by the magic of her attractive presence and glorious singing.
Good as her account of Schumann's Widmung may be, it's when she gets to Brahms, perhaps her favourite composer in this genre, that she's wholly at home, the wistful sense of pain in Nachtigall caught to perfection. In the wordless pieces by Stravinsky and Ravel she floats that warm yet ethereal tone of hers with consummate ease, and the long–breathed phrasing and excellent French in Duparc's mélodie are enhanced by this artist's innate skill in word–painting. For all that, audiences were always impatient for her to get to the Spanish part of her programme, for in this field she was unsurpassed as a singer and interpreter.
Many of these songs were also recorded by her in the studio, but the live occasion gives these performances an extra frisson. The encores are even better. An account of Clavelitos is a superior reading even to those famous ones available elsewhere.
That's complemented by a delightfully insouciant account of the Delibes song that she didn't attempt on any other recorded occasion.
Gerald Moore, as was his wont, manages to change idioms with his familiar virtuosity. As a whole, this is an invaluable addition to the singer's extensive discography.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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“The greatest Berlioz conductor of his generation in a triumphant benchmark live recording … outshines previous sets at whatever price” Gramophone Magazine | | | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. |
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| |  | Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
“Maybe you think you don't need Sir Colin's latest thoughts on Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique? It's his fourth recording after all, but this has all the electricity of a live occasion, with Davis's extraordinary instinct, and the orchestra hanging on his every gesture.” Matt Fernand, bbc.co.uk, 20th November 2002 “the music bristles with the excitement of a first encounter, yet one enriched by long experience” Sunday Times | | | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. |
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Recorded 1953 & 1952 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Gramophone Awards 2001
Gramophone Magazine
Building a Library