Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra mark 150 years since the death of Hector Berlioz with this recording of his tempestuous oratorio La damnation de Faust – a work born of the composer’s obsession with Goethe’s legendary tale. It’s a fable that defies definition – both a tragedy and dark comedy, with a central character both wise and despicable, and a play and epic poem in one. Sir Simon Rattle says, “This is a tribute to the Orchestra, and a tribute to Colin Davis. All of my generation learnt our Berlioz from Colin and the LSO. I’ve grown up with this music, and as a weird kid in the music library where my sister worked, the Berlioz Treatise on Instrumentation was one of my bibles.”
Tracklist
Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.Total time: 02:04:07
Additional information
Label | |
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SKU | LSO0809D |
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Artists | Bryan Hymel, Christopher Purves, Gabor Bretz, Karen Cargill, London Symphony Choir, London Symphony Orchestra |
Composers | |
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Balance Engineer | Neil Hutchinson for Classic Sound Ltd. |
Mastering Engineer | Jonathan Stokes for Classic Sound Ltd. |
Conductors | |
Original Recording Format | |
Producer | Andrew Cornall |
Recording Engineer | Jonathan Stokes for Classic Sound Ltd. |
Recording location | Live at the Barbican, London on 17 & 19 September, 2017 |
Recording Type & Bit Rate | DSD 64 |
Release Date | March 8, 2019 |
Press reviews
Classics Today
This is a wonderful, vivid performance. Rattle handles the scene transitions almost cinematically. From the Song of the Flea in the cellar that appalls Faust, Mefistofeles transports Faust to a field where he is lolled to sleep on a bed of roses. It’s an almost mystical voyage and the ethereal chorus of gnomes and spirits is bettered only by the Sylph Ballet, so diaphanously lovely as to hypnotize the listener despite Berlioz’s warning harmonies. And it is these tender, subtle moments that make us wonder if the huge moments—the Ride to the Abyss and Pandemonium—will have their full, menacing effect. We need not have been concerned: they overwhelm. (…)
Artistic Quality: 10 stars
Sound Quality: 8 stars
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