Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Waverley London Symphony Orchestra & Valery Gergiev

• Hector Berlioz (1803–1869): Symphonie fantastique, Op 14 (1830)
• 1 I. Reveries: Largo - Passions: Allegro agitato e appassionato assai 16:09
• 2 II. Un Bal (Valse): Allegro non troppo 06:56
• 3 III. Scene aux Champs: Adagio 16:03
• 4 IV. Marche au Supplice: Allegretto non troppo 06:51
• 5 V. Songe d'une Nuit du Sabbat: Larghetto - Allegro 09:54
• 6 Waverley, Op. 1 09:42
• Total Runtime 01:05:35

Info for Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Waverley

Berlioz let his imagination run wild in his music, finding inspiration in all manner of sources, including his own turbulent personal life. His experience of powerful, unrequited love finds its expression in the emotionally charged Symphonie Fantastique, the story of an artist’s ‘hopeless love’, complete with waltzes, witches and a hallucinogenic nightmare.

There are few orchestras with the music of Berlioz more thoroughly in their blood than the LSO, and here Valery Gergiev brings to bear his opulent interpretation of this landmark piece.

“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 hush to the Symphonie fantastique's opening, while moments of bombast are driven relentlessly.” (BBC Music Magazine)

“Gergiev has the big picture securely in his grasp.” (Financial Times, UK)

“What matters here is that this live recording preserves personalised music-making of real distinction. If the opening movements feel a little undercooked, Gergiev's distinctive brand of theatrical intensity builds as the narrative unfolds...Bar for bar, the 'Dream of a Witches' Sabbath' is certainly more viscerally exciting and driven than Sir Colin's.” (Gramophone Magazine)

“Gergiev’s impulse seems to be directed towards the last two movements, with a ‘Marche au supplice’ grim and merciless, as indeed it should be, and shrouded in the sinister quality of sound which Gergiev extracts from his players...He drives the orchestra ferociously to one of the most terrifying climaxes imaginable...a memorable performance.” International Record Review, December 2014

London Symphony Orchestra
Valery Gergiev, conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Waverley