Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique / Excerpts From Lelio ~ Tilson Thomas

Berlioz (Composer), Tilson Thomas (Conductor), San Francisco Symphony (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony
• Conductor: Tilson Thomas
• Composer: Berlioz
• Audio CD (May 19, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000006OPB
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,620 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #87 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910) > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent performance!, July 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique / Excerpts From Lelio ~ Tilson Thomas (Audio CD)

Tilson Thomas brings out the full character of each movement of the Symphonie Fantastique. This recording has an extreme style to it. Each movement conveys the appropriate mood. I love the dynamic contrasting! Some movements are a little slow at times, but the styles and fabulous playing by the San Francisco Symphony make the piece a real pleasure to listen to!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not inferior to classical musicians., August 6, 2004

By 

R. Unser - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique / Excerpts From Lelio ~ Tilson Thomas (Audio CD)

As a classical trombonist, I will go on record as saying the musicians do NOT struggle with any passage within the symphony. Tilson Thomas' rendering is as close to flawless as I have heard. By contrast, the brass in the "incomparable London Philharmonic" sound bright, weak and tinny, while the strings are far too erratic to call a polished performance! I would rate this recording ahead of the Montreal Symphony and on par with the Concertgebouw. I own close to 15 recordings of this work and this is, by far, the best

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the very best, April 24, 2003

By 

emmkay (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique / Excerpts From Lelio ~ Tilson Thomas (Audio CD)

IMHO, this is one of the finest recent recordings of this magnificent work, second perhaps only to Mariss Jansons fantastic recording with the Concertgebouw on EMI. I was lucky enough to hear this conductor/orchestra pairing perform this piece live on tour a few years ago and can say that this recording lacks none of the emotional immediacy they are capable of live. To me this performance proves that the SFSO rightfully belongs among the finest virtuoso orchestras in the world. Few have recorded this piece with such stellar ensemble playing.

Note to Tina: if you read the score, Berlioz says that the bells are supposed to be placed 'derriere la scene' - behind the stage. Tilson Thomas's bells are not too sweet at all. They are how they should be. Most other conductors ignore that instruction unfortnately. The witches aren't dancing on the market square after all.