Berlioz: Harold en Italie (Harold in Italy), Op. 16; Rob Roy Overture; Le Corsaire (The Corsair) Overture, Op. 21

Hector Berlioz (Composer), Charles Dutoit (Conductor), Montreal Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (Orchestra), Pinchas Zukerman (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Pinchas Zukerman
• Orchestra: Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
• Conductor: Charles Dutoit
• Composer: Hector Berlioz
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca / London
• ASIN: B0000041TP
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,534 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Harold in Italy: I. Harold aux montagnes

2. Harold in Italy: II. Marche des pelerins

3. Harold in Italy: III. Serenade

4. Harold in Italy: IV. Orgie de brigands

5. Ov-Rob Roy

6. Ov-The Corsair

Editorial Reviews

Berlioz Harold Italy Rob Roy Pinchas Zuckerman Orchestre symphonique de Montreal Charles Dutoit

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Recording of "Harold In Italy" Available, April 14, 2002

By 

josh1000 "josh1000" (West Hollywood, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Berlioz: Harold en Italie (Harold in Italy), Op. 16; Rob Roy Overture; Le Corsaire (The Corsair) Overture, Op. 21 (Audio CD)

Pinchas Zukerman's big, sensual viola sound is perfectly suited to the material here, and the result is a recording of "Harold In Italy" that far outshines the numerous other options on the market. You can say what you want about how Zukerman is really a violinist (not a violist), or that he lays the schmaltz on too thick, or whatever-- but just listen to the viola's entrance in the first movement: For sheer beauty and richness of tone, viola playing doesn't get much better than that, in my opinion.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous performance of one of the few outstanding compositions for viola, November 28, 2006

By 

D. R. Schryer (Poquoson, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Berlioz: Harold en Italie (Harold in Italy), Op. 16; Rob Roy Overture; Le Corsaire (The Corsair) Overture, Op. 21 (Audio CD)

I love the sound of the viola but I reget that there are so few truly great compositions for this rich-toned instrument. Harold in Italy is not the virtuoso viola concerto which Paganini comissioned Berlioz to write for him (Paganini, like Zuckerman played the viola as well as the violin), but it is such a masterpiece for viola and orchestra that Paganini paid Berlioz the agreed upon fee even though Paganini himself never performed it. There is some debate about violinist Pinchas Zuckerman's insistence on consistently playing works for the viola, but personally I'm glad that he does. I regard Zuckerman as a good violinist but a great violist and am glad that he recorded this outstanding performance of this work which I love so dearly. The two Berlioz overtures are welcome additions to this outstanding CD. If you are not yet a viola fan, please get this outstanding CD and see how beautiful the viola -- and this superb composition -- are.