Berlioz: Harold in Italy; Overtures [Hybrid SACD] [Hybrid SACD - DSD, Original recording remastered]

Hector Berlioz (Composer), Charles Munch (Conductor), Boston Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), William Primrose (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: William Primrose
• Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Charles Munch
• Composer: Hector Berlioz
• Audio CD (June 26, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD, Original recording remastered
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000QEIM8W
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,765 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #37 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music > Overtures

Track Listings

1. Harold en Italie, Op. 16 (Harold in Italy); Harold aux

2. Harold en Italie, Op. 16 (Harold in Italy); Marche des pèlerins (March

3. Harold en Italie, Op. 16 (Harold in Italy); Sérénade (2007 SACD

4. Harold en Italie, Op. 16 (Harold in Italy); Orgie des brigands (Orgy of

5. Béatrice et Bénédict Overture (2007 SACD Remastered)

6. Le Corsaire Overture (2007 SACD Remastered)

7. Benvenuto Cellini Overture (2007 SACD Remastered)

8. Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9 (2007 SACD Remastered)

9. Harold en Italie, Op. 16 (Harold in Italy); Harold aux montagnes

10. Harold en Italie, Op. 16 (Harold in Italy); Marche des pèlerins (March

11. Harold en Italie, Op. 16 (Harold in Italy); Sérénade (5.1 Surround

12. Harold en Italie, Op. 16 (Harold in Italy); Orgie des brigands (Orgy of

13. Béatrice et Bénédict Overture (5.1 Surround Mix)

14. Le Corsaire Overture (5.1 Surround Mix)

15. Benvenuto Cellini Overture (5.1 Surround Mix)

16. Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9 (5.1 Surround Mix)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blazing accounts of the overtures, but Harold is a bit lacking, August 23, 2007

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Berlioz: Harold in Italy; Overtures [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

These famous Berlioz recordings from Munch have never been out of print, but for quite a while RCA subjected them to edgy, thin CD transfers. In the case of the four overtures, this held true whether you bought them as part of Munch's compendium box set or on a single budget disc. I hear mroe depth and less shrillness in this new Living Stereo issue, further augmented by SACD (I listened in regular two-channel stereo). The interpretations are fast and blazing. As for "Harold in Italy," William Primrose was Mr. Viola for decades and made splendid recordings of this work under Koussevitzky, Toscanini, and Beecham. It would be hard to choose among them, and despite Munch's vivacious and often original way with the orchestral part, the only real advantage to this late version is stereo sound. Primrose was in decline at the time, and the solo part runs into rough patches of bad intonation, besides feeling low in energy generally.

I'm giving five stars for the four overtures and the sonics, but it's a toss-up whether extra money should be laid out for these pieces alone.

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, July 13, 2007

By 

T. Schmalz (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Berlioz: Harold in Italy; Overtures [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

First of all, the music itself is simple beautiful and amusing. It's light-hearted and fun to listen to. On the level of interpretation, I believe that Munch's approach to the music of this repertoire is second to none. He just handles the Boston Symphony Orchestra right and has a way of accenting the wonderful tempos and themes; the result is magical! In the "Harold in Italy", who better than Primrose? I felt that the overtures were just as enjoyable as the main item on this new recording in RCA's Living Stereo Hybrid-SACD collection.

All together, the sound is simply spectacular and the level of musicianship is of the highest caliber. This recording is well worth your money!

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Buy this for the overtures but "Harold" is dreadful, May 29, 2008

By 

W. Chiles "classical geek" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Berlioz: Harold in Italy; Overtures [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

This recording sounds beautiful in its SACD remastering and Munch's exciting and spontaneous way with the overtures keeps it in my collection. The recording of "Harold" is regrettably off. Despite his affinity for Berlioz, the conductor's tempi seem inappropriate in every movement. I'd recommend the Naxos recording with Talmi, or Bernstein's NY Phil. recording on Sony.