Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14, H. 48 (Live)

Album review

The 75th anniversary of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks ("Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra") has been cause for celebration, not just for the powerhouse orchestra, but it has been a boon for listeners worldwide as the orchestra's in-house label issues previously unreleased recordings. Here, we are presented with a live recording from January 1987 of Berlioz's much-loved Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14, conducted by Sir Colin Davis, who served as the Bavarian Radio Symphony's chief conductor from 1983 until 1993. Berlioz was a favorite of Davis', who made his Bavarian Radio Symphony debut leading the composer's La damnation de Faust, and this is another chance for audiences to hear his mastery over the orchestra. Orchestral brass players and brass lovers, in general, have been drawn to this programmatic work since its premiere for obvious reasons, and they will not be disappointed with the work from this orchestra's formidable group, especially in the Dies irae section of the "Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat" ("Dream of the Witches' Sabbath"). Davis and his orchestra are in their finest form throughout the entire finale; there are few conclusions as exciting as Berlioz's here, and an appropriate amount of applause is retained, with minimal audience noise throughout. Davis recorded this work with several other orchestras, including a much earlier one leading the London Symphony, and his tempos here are more deliberate, likely influenced by his more robust repertoire, which, at this point, also covered the major symphonists such as Mahler and Bruckner.

© Keith Finke /TiVo