Immerse yourself in the symphonic genius of Hector Berlioz with this comprehensive collection of his masterful works. Recorded live, this album captures the raw power and intricate detail of Berlioz's compositions, offering a unique and authentic listening experience. Spanning over four and a half hours, this extensive collection features some of Berlioz's most celebrated pieces, including the iconic "Symphonie fantastique," a groundbreaking work that revolutionized the symphonic form with its vivid orchestration and programmatic narrative.
The album also showcases Berlioz's dramatic flair in "L'enfance du Christ," a profound and evocative oratorio that weaves together biblical narrative and personal reflection. Additionally, the album includes selections from "Benvenuto Cellini," an opera that, though not as widely performed as some of his other works, demonstrates Berlioz's versatility and innovation in the operatic genre.
This live recording, released by SWR Classic, provides a rare opportunity to experience Berlioz's music in its full glory, performed by a world-class orchestra. Whether you are a seasoned classical enthusiast or a newcomer to Berlioz's music, this album offers a rich and rewarding journey through the composer's extraordinary output. The meticulous attention to detail in the remastering process ensures that every nuance of Berlioz's score is brought to life, making this a definitive addition to any classical music collection.
2022 SWR Classic2022 SWR Classic
Tracks
Les francs-juges, Op. 3, H. 23d: Overture (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14, H. 48: I. Rêveries - Passions. Largo - Allegro agitato e appassionato assai - Religiosamente (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14, H. 48: II. Un bal. Valse. Allegro non troppo (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14, H. 48: III. Scène aux champs. Adagio (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14, H. 48: IV. Marche au supplice. Allegro non troppo (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14, H. 48: V. Songe d’une nuit de sabbat. Larghetto - Allegro (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 1 Scene 1 "Le songe d’Hérode": Dans la créche (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Marc Padmore
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 1 Scene 1 "Le songe d’Hérode": Qui vient ? (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Frank Bossert, Bernhard Hartmann
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 1 Scene 2 "Le songe d’Hérode": Toujours ce rêve ! (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ralf Lukas
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 1 Scene 2 "Le songe d’Hérode": O misère des rois [Live] (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ralf Lukas
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 1 Scene 3 "Le songe d’Hérode": Seigneur ! (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ralf Lukas, Bernhard Hartmann
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 1 Scene 4 "Le songe d’Hérode": Les sages de Judée (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Ralf Lukas
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 1 Scene 5 "Le songe d’Hérode": Ô mon cher fils, donne cette herbe tendre (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Christiane Oelze, Christopher Maltman
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 1 Scene 6 "Le songe d’Hérode": Joseph ! Marie ! Écoutez-nous (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Christiane Oelze, Christopher Maltman
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 2 "La fuite en Égypte": Overture (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 2 "La fuite en Égypte": Adieu des bergers à la sainte famille (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 2 "La fuite en Égypte": Le repos de la sainte famille (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Ralf Lukas
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 3 "L’arrivée à Saïs": Depuis trois jours, malgré l’ardeur du vent (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Marc Padmore
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 3 Scene 1 "L’arrivée à Saïs": Dans cette ville immense (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Christiane Oelze, Christopher Maltman
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 3 Scene 2 "L’arrivée à Saïs": Entrez, entrez, pauvres Hébreux ! (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Christopher Maltman, Mikhail Nikiforov
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 3 Scene 3 "L’arrivée à Saïs": Trio pour deux flûtes et harpe, exécuté par les jeunes Ismaélites (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 3 Scene 3 "L’arrivée à Saïs": Vous pleurez, jeune mère (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Christiane Oelze, Christopher Maltman, Mikhail Nikiforov
L’enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H. 130, Pt. 3 Scene 3 "L’arrivée à Saïs": Ce fut ainsi que par un infidèle (Live)Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Marc Padmore
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76 (Weimar Version): Overture [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act I Scene 1 "Lundi gras" (Weimar Version): Teresa ! Teresa ! Où peut-elle être ? [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Franz Hawlata
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act I Scene 1 "Lundi gras" (Weimar Version): Enfin il est sorti tout de bon [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Laura Claycomb, Bruce Ford, Reinhard Mayr, Johannes Chum, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act I Scene 2 "Lundi gras" (Weimar Version): Les belles fleurs ! [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Laura Claycomb
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act I Scene 2 "Lundi gras" (Weimar Version): Entre l’amour et le devoir [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Laura Claycomb
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act I Scene 3 "Lundi gras" (Weimar Version): Cellini ! [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Laura Claycomb, Bruce Ford, Christopher Maltman
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act I Scene 4 "Lundi gras" (Weimar Version): Ciel, nous sommes perdus, c’est le pas de mon père [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Laura Claycomb, Bruce Ford, Christopher Maltman, Franz Hawlata
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act I Scene 4 "Lundi gras" (Weimar Version): A nous, voisines et servantes ! [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Laura Claycomb, Christopher Maltman, Franz Hawlata, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 8 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): Une heure encore et ma belle maîtresse [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Ford
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 8 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): La gloire était ma seule idole [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Ford
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 8 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): A boire, à boire, à boire ! [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Ford, Johannes Chum, Reinhard Mayr, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 8 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): Si la terre aux beaux jours se couronne [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Ford, Johannes Chum, Reinhard Mayr, Ekkehard Wagner, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 9 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): Cette somme t’est due [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Monica Groop, Bruce Ford, Johannes Chum, Reinhard Mayr, Ekkehard Wagner, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 9 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): C’est trop fort ! [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Maltman, Matthias Hoffmann
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 9 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): Ah ! Qui pourrait me résister ? [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Maltman
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 12 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): Vous voyez, j’espère [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Franz Hawlata, Laura Claycomb, Monica Groop, Bruce Ford, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 12 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): Ah ! Ah ! très bien, le plaisant visage ! [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Franz Hawlata, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 12 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): Voici Maître Arlequin [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Franz Hawlata, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 12 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): Regardons bien maître Arlequin [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act II Scene 12 "Mardi gras" (Weimar Version): Il plaît fort [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Franz Hawlata, Reinhard Mayr, Johannes Chum, Matthias Hoffmann, Monica Groop, Laura Claycomb, Christopher Maltman, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act III "Mercrèdi des cendres" (Weimar Version): Entr’acte et scène [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act III Scene 1 "Mercrèdi des cendres" (Weimar Version): A l’atelier rentrons sans plus attendre [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act III Scene 2 "Mercrèdi des cendres" (Weimar Version): Il n’a pas reparu [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Laura Claycomb, Monica Groop
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act III Scene 3 "Mercrèdi des cendres" (Weimar Version): Bienheureux les matelots [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Monica Groop, Johannes Chum, Reinhard Mayr, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act III Scene 4 "Mercrèdi des cendres" (Weimar Version): Mais qu’ai-je donc ? [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Monica Groop
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act III Scene 5 "Mercrèdi des cendres" (Weimar Version): Ah, qu’est-il devenu ? [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Laura Claycomb, Monica Groop, Chor Des Leipziger Rundfunks
Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23, H. 76, Act III Scene 6 "Mercrèdi des cendres" (Weimar Version): Teresa ! [Live]Hector Berlioz, Sir Roger Norrington, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Laura Claycomb, Monica Groop, Bruce Ford
Hector Berlioz, born in 1803 near Grenoble, France, was a pioneering figure in the Romantic era, known for his bold and innovative compositions that often defied convention. Despite his father's insistence on a medical career, Berlioz pursued his passion for music, becoming a composer and conductor of remarkable originality. His works, such as the dramatic "Symphonie fantastique" and the grand "Requiem," showcase his masterful orchestration and vivid storytelling. Berlioz's output spans various genres, including symphonies, operas like "Les Troyens," and choral pieces that push the boundaries of musical expression. His unique vision and unyielding creativity make him a standout figure in classical music history.