Search - H. Berlioz :: Berlioz: Beatrice & Benedict

Berlioz' Shakespearean Romp

Christopher Forbes | Brooklyn,, NY | 05/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Opinions about Sir Colin Davis have always varied widely between adulations and castigation. But I will always be thankful to him for three things, the conductor's aggressive championing of Sir Michael Tippet, his brilliant Sibelius cycle, and the fact that Davis almost single-handedly resurrected the reputation of Hector Berlioz in the 20th century. Berlioz is going through a positive Renaissance. The Met unveiled a new production of Les Troyens this year and is scheduled for Benvenuto Cellini next year. But for what ever reason, the composer's last opera has never gained a foothold in the repertoire. It's a shame, since buoyant work is every bit the equal of the massive Les Troyens, and at a little over two hours, it's a wonderful evening's romp. Beatrice and Benedict takes its story from portions of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Jettisoning the Hero and Claudio plot, and anything else to darken the mood, the work is about as joyful as you could expect from Berlioz. From the almost Mendelsohnian overture to the luminous nocture at the end of the first act, to the final chorus, this is a work to treasure. It shows the composer off to his best advantage. The orchestration is bright and brilliant, and the vocal lines are ecstatic. Davis' performance is terrific. This LSO live recording is every bit the equal of Davis' seminal recording in the 60s. The singers, though not first tier in most opera houses, are uniformly excellent. Particularly stunning is the end of the first act duet, the Nocturne. It is a true slice of Berliozian heaven. If you have ever been interested in this marvelous composer's operatic work, Beatrice and Benedict is the best place to start. It is a total delight."

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 02/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"DYNAMIC DUO: SIR COLIN DAVIS AND HECTOR BERLIOZ.

'Beatrice and Benedict' is sung in French without dialogue and recorded live at the Barbicon Centre on June 6th and 8th, 2000. The 32 page booklet included with the album has a composer feature programme note by the Berlioz specialist, David Cairns, artist biographies and full libretto.



Berlioz frequently turned to Shakespeare for inspiration, and in 'Beatrice and Benedict' produced a delightful and sensuous score on 'Much Ado About Nothing'. This young cast excell in some of Berlioz's most beautifully crafted and elegant music, under the inspirational guidance of Sir Colin Davis.



These discs capture the scintillating warmth of performance when the London Symphony Orchestra was in virtuostic form. A limpid and exhilarating delight is created by Enkelejda Shkosa and Kenneth Tarver in the title roles. Susan Gritton's 'Hero" is outstanding, and Davis touches everything with quicksilver. All of this enables the listener to concentrate on the exquisite enchanted score.



The sum total is nothing short of fabulous, with excellent sound quality, and the spine-tingling spontanaeity which comes from recording a concert performance."