Customer Reviews

Berlioz: Harold in Italy; Overtures [Hybrid SACD]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

This is actually the first recording of Berlioz I've owned. I had heard the Corsair Overture on the radio and liked it, so I picked up this disc. Wow, was I glad I did. The whole disc is exciting, well played and recorded. It is impossible to believe the original recording was done so long ago. A real treat, especially in SACD.

SACD does a whale of job improving the sound of my old collection of CD and vinyl records. Any one of these is worth buying twice, particularly when the performance is of such high standard and fine artist.

Sounds quality is amazing and very much like the real thing. If you are a vintage record buff, it doesn't get better than this. AMAZING!!!