SACDs - Berlioz

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Berlioz: Les nuits d’été

Berlioz: Les nuits d’été


Berlioz:

Les Nuits d'été, Op. 7

Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17: Love Scene

La Mort de Cléopâtre - Scène lyrique


Karen Cargill (mezzo-soprano)

Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Robin Ticciati

Robin Ticciati cements his reputation as an outstanding Berliozian with his latest recording, ‘Berlioz: Les nuits d’été’, which includes excerpts from Roméo & Juliette and La Mort de Cléopâtre.

A pupil of Sir Simon Rattle and the great Berliozian Sir Colin Davis, Robin’s reputation as one of this generation's best conductors was assured when he was announced as the next music director of Glyndebourne, taking over from Vladimir Jurowski in 2014.

Named one of the top ten young ‘conductors on the verge of greatness' by Gramophone Magazine, Robin delivers fresh insights and vivid colours into this luminous work.

The recording features Kathleen Ferrier prize-winning mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill, who has sung at the Metropolitan Opera, New York and won acclaim as Cleopatra, a role she reprises here: ‘...the core of this stunning concert was a shattering, heart-rending performance by Cargill in awesome voice.’ (The Herald)

The works of Berlioz have featured prominently in Ticciati’s programmes with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra since he became their principal conductor in 2009.

Ticciati’s recording debut, ‘Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique’, received rave reviews: it was named Critics' Choice 'Sound of 2012' (The Independent), 'Classical CD of the Week' (The Sunday Times), 'Disc of the Week' (BBC Radio 3 'CD Review') and No. 3 in The Sunday Times’ Best Classical Albums of 2012 list.

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is internationally recognised as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world with a multi award-winning catalogue of recordings under Robin Ticciati, Sir Charles Mackerras, Alexander Janiczek and Joseph Swensen.

“[Cargill] has a remarkably beautiful voice, full of sunny delicacy and warmth but also capable of Wagnerian dramatics...Ticciati's chamber forces do make a difference from the sound we're used to, without disturbing any essential balances. Against them, the brass especially, the voice sounds more at ease and more flexible...the players in turn underpin Cargill's performance with more precise shading” BBC Music Magazine, May 2013 *****

“With his second release for the Glasgow-based label Linn, Ticciati could do for the Scottish mezzo what Barbirolli did for the young Janet Baker in the 1960s. Cargill’s tone is plusher, but Baker is clearly one of her exemplars...her Nuits d’été and Cleopatra suggest a Trojans Dido of stature in the making.” Sunday Times, 28th April 2013

“the virtues that lit up [Ticciati's] Fantastique remain: piercing clarity of colour and texture; heightened drama; increased tenderness and intimacy...This is Berlioz up close and personal, and wonderful to behold. It’s Berlioz performed with love, too...Dark, mobile, richly emotional, [Cargill's] voice finds a near-perfect showcase” The Times, 3rd May 2013 ****

“[Cargill's] account of Les Nuits d'Été, wonderfully controlled and exquisitely shaded, seems to me one of the finest to appear on disc in recent years. Her performance of the Cleopatra cantata is equally subtle and meticulous...There and in Nuits d'Été, Ticciati defines the accompanying detail immaculately” The Guardian, 3rd May 2013 *****

“Ticciati’s grasp of the music’s romantic bloom is one of this disc’s attractions” Financial Times, 11th May 2013

“One of the striking facets of Ticciati's conducting and the SCO's playing in Les nuits d'ete is the clarity and details that spring from the score...The SCO's collaboration with the mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill is also an entirely felicitous one... This is a performance of Les nuits d'ete that is all of a piece” Gramophone Magazine, June 2013

“Cargill wraps her sumptuous voice around the curves of Berlioz's song cycle in a performance of extraordinary musical delicacy, poetic sensitivity and emotional range.” The Independent, 25th May 2013 *****

GGramophone Magazine

Disc of the Month - June 2013

Released or re-released in last 6 months

Super Audio CD

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Linn - CKD421

(SACD)

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Berlioz: Overtures

Berlioz: Overtures


Berlioz:

King Lear Overture, Op. 4

Le carnaval romain Overture, Op. 9

Béatrice et Bénédict, Op. 27: Overture

Le Corsaire Overture, Op. 21

Waverley Overture Op. 1

Les Francs-juges Overture, Op. 3

Benvenuto Cellini Overture

La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24: Rákóczi March


The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Andrew Davis here perform seven dazzling orchestral overtures by Hector Berlioz, a composer who excelled in blending literary and musical elements into highly energetic and personal creations.

The overtures are widely varied in mood, as are the operas from which they were drawn. Berlioz wrote his first large-scale instrumental composition, the Overture to Les Francs-juges, in 1826, the year in which he enrolled at the Paris Conservatoire. Even though the opera itself was never performed, Berlioz remained proudly affectionate of the overture, which was played all over Germany and Holland in its early days. His second opera, Benvenuto Cellini, followed in 1838; its music gave rise both to the opera’s overture and to the concert overture Le Carnaval romain which depicts its subject in brilliant colour through breathtakingly vibrant orchestration.

The comic opera Béatrice et Bénédict took its inspiration from Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing. The overture draws on an intense solo scene for Béatrice and adds elements of the cheerful banter that make up the story of the title characters’ playful courtship.

When Berlioz visited the Hungarian capital Pest in 1846, it was suggested to him that one way of winning the hearts of the audiences there would be to make an arrangement of the beloved Rákóczy March, which up until that point had been known only as a piano piece. Berlioz agreed, and on the very night before he left for Pest, he put together his own orchestral version of the piece. It was a resounding success when performed at his first concert, to the extent that Berlioz promptly included it in the large work on which he was working at the time: La Damnation de Faust.

Le Roi Lear, Le Corsaire, and Waverley have one thing in common: all are independent concert pieces that have been given the title overture as in many respects they do resemble opera overtures – but none is in actual fact connected to an opera. The composer here took his inspiration from literary works. Le Roi Lear, for instance, is a remarkable tone portrait of Shakespeare’s deranged king, full of energy and anger, while Le Corsaire may be loosely based on Byron’s The Corsair. Berlioz based Waverley on a novel of the same name by Sir Walter Scott, and the score bears a quotation in English: ‘Dreams of love and Lady’s charms, give place to honour and to arms.’ The contrast expressed so well in this simple quotation is equally evident in the music itself. Here the ‘dreams of love’ unfold in a long cello melody, which is repeated with richer orchestrations, before leading into the vigorous musical depiction of ‘honour and arms’.

“Sir Andrew’s account of Le Carnaval romain is excellent. The memorable cor anglais solo near the start is nicely paced...the Bergen reading catches the colourful brilliance of the carnival itself in a dashing display...Benvenuto Cellini is another conspicuous success...the lyrical music is very winningly done in Bergen while there’s all the sweep and brilliance you could wish for later on in the overture” MusicWeb International, March 2013

“the playing here is satisfyingly mellow and vibrant, with warm strings and sturdy woodwind, yet also refreshing and translucent. This is aided by Andrew Davis's tempos fairly spacious and unforced but never slack, and now and then sizzling...there's no shortage of swashbuckle in Le corsaire and Benvenuto Cellini” BBC Music Magazine, April 2013 ****

“Until now the collection to have of these remarkable works was by the Staatskapelle Dresden under Colin Davis...these thrilling new performances by Sir Andrew Davis and the excellent Bergen Philharmonic tend to trump the earlier issue, not least for the superb SACD quality.” Gramophone Magazine, May 2013

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Chandos - CHSA5118

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Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique & Nuits d'été

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique & Nuits d'été


Berlioz:

Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14

Vienna Philharmonic, Pierre Monteux

Les Nuits D'été, Op. 7 (selection)

II-VI

Eleanor Steber (soprano)

New York Philharmonic, Dimitri Mitropoulos


In 1831 Berlioz extended modern orchestral art with this 'Symphonie Fantastique' which served as a programme model for Mahler and Wagner and later for Debussy's 'La Mer'. Of the 118 recordings since 1930 the models which inspire most are still those of Pierre Monteux and Charles Munch (pace Jean Roy).

The American soprano Eleonor Steber recorded 'Nuits d'été' in 1953 with the blazing support of Mitropoulos and the New York Philharmonic, the most possessed and convincing version of this masterpiece ever played.

1953 Columbia US [Op. 7], October 1958 [Op. 14]

“Steber’s 1953 Nuits d’été remains the finest account on disc. No other singer, not even Crespin, equals her for beauty of tone and phrasing, seamless legato and interpretative insight...Monteux’s Fantastique is, as one would expect from this great French Berliozian, well worth reissuing. But please, Praga, give us Steber complete.” Sunday Times, 10th February 2013

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Praga Digitals - DSD350071

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Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14


The multi-award winning Scottish Chamber Orchestra marks its debut recording under the direction of Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati with the majestic Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz.

Named one of the top ten young ‘conductors on the verge of greatness’ by Gramophone Magazine, Robin is the perfect conductor to bring out the deep colours and emotions of this composition while balancing the orchestra and keeping the pace to create an impressive and dynamic sound throughout.

With this recording Robin aimed to offer audiences ‘a thought-provoking and new way of listening to the piece.’

Symphonie Fantastique continues to be one of the most popular early Romantic compositions with today’s audiences.

Robin Ticciati took up the position of Principal Conductor with the SCO from the 2009/10 season and opened the 2011/12 season with a blistering Berlioz programme hailed by the critics as ‘compelling’.

Since then his profile has continued to build; in 2011 he was voted one of 'Tomorrow's Icons' by Gramophone and was announced as the next music director of Glyndebourne, taking over from Vladimir Jurowski in 2014.

‘Symphonie Fantastique’ is the first in a series of Berlioz recordings undertaken by the SCO and Ticciati: a recording of Nuits d’été and the Death of Cleopatra are planned for 2012.)

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is internationally recognised as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world.

The Orchestra has a large international fan base following recent performances in Spain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, the USA, Portugal and the Netherlands.

“this Fantastique is remarkable for its fresh insights...The opening Rêveries — Passions is especially dreamlike, impressionistic almost...while the nightmarish sounds of the Witches’ Sabbath emerge in the most vivid colours thanks to the clarity of the string sound and the squealing high woodwinds...Fantastique!” Sunday Times, 1st April 2012

“Few previous recordings of the Symphonie Fantastique will have used such a modest string section, but the transparency and lightness of touch Ticciati achieves is a real bonus...The overture to the opera Beatrice and Benedict, full of wonderful string interplay and characterful woodwind, makes a charming fill-up.” The Guardian, 5th April 2012 ****

“Berlioz’s scoring comes across with remarkable clarity, its textures translucent, its individual timbres well characterised, its mixes subtly variegated. The SCO also has the capability of full, rounded sonorities and explosive thrills when the occasion demands...Ticciati draws on these elements with both discretion and vitality, placing them within a thoughtfully chosen spectrum of colour and within an interpretation that is conceived cohesively” The Telegraph, 12th April 2012 *****

“Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique is delivered with a febrile, knife-edge energy. The sound is taut, lean; the tempos not sluggish, yet there’s time for nuance and colour. Only in the last movements, the March to the Scaffold and Witches’ Sabbath, is his approach too reticent and English. Highly impressive overall.” The Times, 14th April 2012

“We hear transparent textures, a sinewy sound, a fleetness of rhythm and melodic expression – reminding us that the orchestral apparatus Berlioz inherited was simpler than the one he bequeathed. Ticciati has assumed Colin Davis’s mantle in this music, giving it a natural pulse and dramatic shape.” Financial Times, 14th April 2012 ***

“The clarity, coordination and spectrum of colour in the orchestra are spot-on for Berlioz. The ear can thus readily appreciate the individuality of Berlioz's scoring. This is altogether a performance that has been thought through as an organic entity, a broad, vivid tableau in which images are sharply focused.” Gramophone Magazine, May 2012

“the SCO remains one of the world's great chamber ensembles, with precision playing and clear, detailed articulation few can equal. Ticciati exploits this to create an almost cerebral, un-hallucinatory reading...What's lost in rich textures is regained in clarity and atmosphere...The orgiastic 'Witches Sabbath' feels a little delicate at first, but gathers febrile force in the finale.” BBC Music Magazine, June 2012 *****

“This is a very worthwhile addition to the vast discography of the Symphonie fantastique...Brass are crisp, bright but never overbearing, and the SCO woodwind are consistently impressive, both individually and collectively. The second reason to explore this disc is Robin Ticciati's conducting...it's unquestionably an impressive debut.” International Record Review, May 2012

“Ticciati’s version hits the spot. Horns snarl, bassoons strut, drums pound and the trombones are suitably leery. In a work usually played by over-upholstered big bands, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s leaner, crisper sound is a breath of fresh air...Highly impressive stuff, and the wonderful Julio de Diego painting on the sleeve adds to the fun.” The Arts Desk, 18th August 2012

“The sharp-focus clarity and litheness of this relatively small-scale account will come as a surprise to most listeners...but Ticciati's approach reaps great dividends.” bbc.co.uk, 21st September 2012

“For me Ticciati’s vision and the playing of his orchestra succeed on every front...Ticciati combines modern instruments with period style and brings out the best of both worlds. This is a version that will blow off the cobwebs for someone who knows the work already and wants to explore something different” MusicWeb International, June 2012

“Ticciati indicates that he will be as dynamic a Berliozian as his mentor, Colin Davis.” Sunday Times, 9th December 2012

Super Audio CD

Format:

Hybrid Multi-channel

Linn - CKD400

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Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique


Berlioz:

Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14

La Mort de Cléopâtre - Scène lyrique

Anna Caterina Antonacci (soprano)


In a very short time, Yannick Nézet-Séguin has become one of the most sought-after young conductors in the world, popular with orchestras and audiences alike. Recently named as Music Director Designate of the Philadelphia Orchestra, he succeeded Valery Gergiev as Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008. He is also Chief Guest Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

For the first of four projected discs with BIS, Nézet-Séguin and his Rotterdam players have recorded Hector Berlioz’ masterpiece Symphonie fantastique, in a full-blooded and luxurious performance which at the same time respects the work’s classical proportions

The work is here followed by the ‘lyrical scene’ Cléopâtre (often referred to as La Mort de Cléopâtre), composed shortly before as Berlioz’ entry in the competition for the prestigious Prix de Rome.

Performing the part of Cleopatra is the electrifying soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci in one of her rare appearances on disc.

"He [Yannick Nézet-Séguin] makes the Rotterdam Orchestra sound word-class.” The Times

“one hears that what Nézet-Séguin offers (aided by a superlatively airy, open, yet richly resonant recording) is the orchestral equivalent of a Peter Hall staging - with a focus entirely on the text itself, not its extra-musical 'narrative', and with no whipped-up histrionics, just apt tempos and pinpoint placing of each note and accent.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2011 ***

“You'll hear things here all too routinely buried by others. Anna Caterina Antonacci's vocal heft and dramatic instincts help unlock the anguish of Cléopâtre in the symphony's ideal companion piece....First-rate surround sound adds to this recording's lasting appeal.” Classic FM Magazine, May 2011 *****

“[an] expressive, operatic reading of the Fantastique...He's not afraid of violence, noise or audience-rousing codas - try the end of the first movement or the sweep of the ball...The fill-up is gorgeous enough to make purchase obligatory.” Gramophone Magazine, May 2011

“his Fantastique is wonderful...the best of it is almost mind-bending in its hallucinatory vividness – the last two movements have rarely sounded more weird – and the whole thing captures the sense of self-dramatising Romantic shamelessness that lurks behind it. Ultimately, then, a very fine performance.” The Guardian, 7th April 2011 ****

“This a strong, clean-cut performance of the Symphonie fantastique...blessed with lucid playing that mirrors the translucency of Berlioz’s scoring. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts with rhythmic punch and, in the Scène aux champs, has the measure of the rustic tranquillity...Antonacci sings with thrilling intensity.” The Telegraph, 25th February 2011 ****

Super Audio CD

Format:

Hybrid Multi-channel

BIS - BISSACD1800

(SACD)

$17.50

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