Composer: Hector Berlioz
Performer: Anna Caterina Antonacci
Orchestra: Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: BIS
Catalogue: BISSACD1800
Release: 2011
Size: 618 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
01. I. Reveries: Largo – Passions: Allegro agitato e appassionato assai
02. II. Un Bal (Valse): Allegro non troppo
03. III. Scene aux Champs: Adagio
04. IV. Marche au Supplice: Allegretto non troppo
05. V. Songe d’une Nuit du Sabbat: Larghetto – Allegro
Cléopâtre – Scène lyrique, H36
06. Recitative: C’en est donc fait! ma honte est assuree
07. Meditation: Grands Pharaons, nobles Lagides
In a very short time, Yannick Nézet-Séguin has become one of the most sought-after young conductors in the world, popular with orchestras and audiences alike. Recently named as Music Director Designate of the Philadelphia Orchestra, he succeeded Valery Gergiev as Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008. He is also Chief Guest Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
For the first of four projected discs with BIS, Nézet-Séguin and his Rotterdam players have recorded Hector Berlioz’ masterpiece Symphonie fantastique, in a full-blooded and luxurious performance which at the same time respects the work’s classical proportions
The work is here followed by the ‘lyrical scene’ Cléopâtre (often referred to as La Mort de Cléopâtre), composed shortly before as Berlioz’ entry in the competition for the prestigious Prix de Rome.
Performing the part of Cleopatra is the electrifying soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci in one of her rare appearances on disc.
On this 2010 super audio CD, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra present an exceptional orchestral showcase that Berlioz fans will relish. The performance of Symphonie fantastique is filled with sharp details and startling effects in the high-quality multichannel recording, yet the sound of the orchestra is rich and full, so the most desired audio features are captured without sacrificing one for the other. The dynamic range is quite wide, from the barely perceptible pianissimos of the first movement to the shattering orchestral tutti in the last two movements, so listeners may find some minor volume adjustments are necessary along the way. But the excitement of the performance is worth the trouble, and Nézet-Séguin’s fluid and lively interpretation makes this one of the most compelling versions of Symphonie fantastique available in the SACD format. The lyric scene Cléopâtre, also known as La mort de Cléopâtre, which was one of Berlioz’s early attempts to win the Prix de Rome, is provided as filler. Soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci gives the scene great emotional energy and an operatic character, and the orchestra plays with vitality and vivid colors, so this minor work is at least a fun bonus that adds value to the package.