Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

Hector Berlioz (Composer), Sir Colin Davis (Conductor), Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
• Conductor: Sir Colin Davis
• Composer: Hector Berlioz
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000040W2
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #341,399 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: Reveries - Passions (Largo - Allegro agitato ed appassionato assai)

2. Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: Un Bal (Valse: Allegro non troppo)

3. Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: Scene aux champs (Adagio)

4. Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: Marche au supplice (Allegretto non troppo) --

5. Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14: Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat (Larghetto - Allegro - Ronde du Sabbat: Poco meno mosso)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very Fine...But Not the Reference Standard, March 30, 1999

By 

Douglas Beckerman (Sherman Oaks, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique (Audio CD)

It seems to be the consensus of music reviewers around the world that THIS is the recording of the Symphonie to own. I have to respectfully part with that orthodoxy. While Davis coaxes some very fine playing from the world-class Dutch musicians, the reading seems a little musty to my ears. The interpretation that gets the blood racing (and that's what this music is all about) is the 1968 Bernstein/NY Philharmonic [NOT his 1961 first recording and DEFINITELY not Bernstein's abominable 70's recording with the French National Orchestra]. Regrettably, this recording on Sony/Columbia is now out of print. The conductor and orchestra are in total synch on this potboiler and the audio engineering is excellent. The execution (particularly in the March to the Scaffold and Witch's Sabbath) is utterly hair-raising. If you can find this in the cut-out bins, GRAB IT! No finer recording has been made in the last 30 years.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bunk to the reviewer below, August 26, 2000

By 

Brian Felsen "Twitter: @brianfelsen" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique (Audio CD)

This is the best version out there, and I've heard several, including the OOP Bernstein - you can't get better than this; not the most generous CD with 55 minutes and no coupling, but worth every penny.