SACD, Berlioz (composer)
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Berlioz: La damnation de Faust
Karen Cargill (mezzo-soprano), Bryan Hymel (tenor), Christopher Purves (baritone), Gábor Bretz (bass)
London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Guildhall School Singers, Tiffin Children's Chorus, Tiffin Girls' Choir, Tiffin Boys' Choir, Sir Simon Rattle
The work and its style – especially the virtuosity and panache required – have clearly remained in the orchestra’s collective memory…Overall it’s a tightly organised and carefully paced achievement... —
Awards:
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Record Review, 23rd March 2019, Record of the Week
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International Classical Music Awards, 2019, Nominee - Opera
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All the soloists are excellent, and thoughtful casting among the four baritones and bass-baritones has allotted the Israelite father to Matthew Brook, who brings just that touch of extra warmth... —
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Gergiev has plenty of insights...The playing for the London Symphony Orchestra is, as so often, exceptionally refined, yet very much alive and full of colour...Under Gergiev, there is an exceptional... —
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Special offer. Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette
Michèle Losier (mezzo-soprano), Samuel Boden (tenor) & David Soar (bass)
BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus, Sir Andrew Davis
A top-class performance and recording of a wonderful masterpiece. —
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2016, Choral & Song Choice
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Special offer. Berlioz: Harold en Italie
RecommendedJames Ehnes (viola), James Ehnes (violin)
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis
Davis and his production team have worked hard to keep James Ehnes's quite ravishingly beautiful playing in focus..It sounds as if Davis sees the work as more lyrical and Romantic...than as... —
Awards:
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2015
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Berlioz: L'Enfance du Christ, Op. 25
RecommendedVéronique Gens (Marie), Alastair Miles (Herod/Ishmaelite Father), Yann Beuron (Narrator), Stephan Loges (Joseph)
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Robin Ticciati
Beuron, still probably France's finest lyric tenor, a compelling Recitant with open, ardent tones and warm delivery...Miles is a splendidly anguished but restrained Herod and benign Ishmaelite,... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 2nd December 2013
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Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17
RecommendedOlga Borodina (mezzo-soprano), Kenneth Tarver (tenor), Evgeny Nikitin (bass)
London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus & Guildhall School Singers, Valery Gergiev
Gergiev, in this live account, inclines towards operatic fire and pace, occasionally headlong, but with a clarity and hushed, atmospheric pianissimo finely captured by the spacious SACD recording. —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 8th July 2016
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the playing here is satisfyingly mellow and vibrant, with warm strings and sturdy woodwind, yet also refreshing and translucent. This is aided by Andrew Davis's tempos fairly spacious and unforced... —
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Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini
Gregory Kunde (Cellini), Laura Claycomb (Teresa), Darren Jeffery (Balducci), Andrew Kennedy (Francesco), Isabelle Cals (Ascanio), John Relyea (Pope Clement VII), Peter Coleman-Wright (Fieramosca), Jacques Imbrailo (Pompeo)
London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
The combination of technology and the conductor's unimpaired élanmakes for glowing textures and shattering climaxes. —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, August 2008, Editor's Choice
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Berlioz: Requiem
Javier Camarena (tenor), Chorus Santa Cecilia, Concertgebouworkest, Antonio Pappano
One could go on about the beauties and musical virtues of this release, but suffice to say that it is by far the best Berlioz Requiem in years. —
Awards:
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International Classical Music Awards, 2022, Nominated - Choral
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