Berlioz: Harold en Italie (Harold in Italy)
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Composer: Hector BerliozConductor: Colin Davis
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
Format: Import, Live
CD Release Date: 2003-08-12
Music Label: Lso Live UK
Music reviews of Berlioz: Harold en Italie (Harold in Italy)
Music Review: A sweet, flowing account of Harold with lovely lyricism
Rating: 5 Stars
Every word of the Amazon reviewer's rave sounds convincing--he's echoing the general rapture that greeted this live LSO recording in the UK--so I hoped that reality would match the advance hype. In some wys it does. The London Sym. plays with real delicacy and finesse throghout, and Davis's feeling for Berlioz's lyric line is both natural and touching. Also, Tadea Zimmermann is that rare soloist who can keep the viola from sounding stodgy and lachrymose. She's far from sounding lusty, as the Amazon reviewer claims, but is instead sweet and lively, both highly desirable qualities. On those accounts alone, this is a very fine reading of Harold in Italy.
Is it the ne plus ultra? Well, we have two classic recordings from the great William Primrose under Beecham and Koussevitzky, both of which are livelier and more volatile than this one, but of course they are in dated mono. In stereo there's Davis himself in his younger years, along with a vibrant recording under John Eliot Gardiner, both on Philips. For volatility no one beats Bernstein in an almost raucous performance on EMI. I think you could call the new Davis reading pre-eminent only if you prefer its lilting rhythms and flowing contours. If so, then his relative coolness and control in the finale will seem fine. Highly recommended.
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Description of Berlioz: Harold en Italie (Harold in Italy)
Programme also includes Ballet Music from Les Troyens:- Marche pour l'entrée de la Reine - Pas des Almées - Danse des Esclaves - Pas d'Esclaves nubiennes
Sir Colin Davis returns to Berlioz in the year of the composer's bicentenary, following the worldwide praise and numerous awards that greeted his first five Berlioz recordings on LSO Live. The new release, recorded in February 2003 with Tabea Zimmermann, is one of the year's most eagerly anticipated classical CDs.
Colin Davis is arguably the finest Berlioz conductor in the world; both of his recordings of Les Troyens are magnificent and elsewhere he's rarely bettered. His winning streak continues with this live performance with the LSO of Harold in Italy and the ballet music from Troyens. Tabea Zimmermann's solo viola is as grand, brilliantly flavorful, and picturesque as the LSO's playing; and the entire performance--swift and rhythmically propulsive--is simply fantastic. The introspective moments--listen to the way the air positively shimmers at the "canto religioso"--are as effective as the big moments, and the huge finale is truly wild without ever lapsing into anarchy. This is controlled but lusty playing helped by the crisp recording--even the brass, playing with abandon, doesn't drown out the highest strings or piccolo. The Troyens music should probably have been a curtain raiser rather than an encore, but it's handsomely played and a nice, exotic touch. If you'd like, you can throw out your other recordings of Harold--this one is all you need. --Robert Levine
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