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Symphonie Fantastique / Excerpts From Lelio
Berlioz, Thomas, San Francisco Symphony
Symphonie Fantastique / Excerpts From Lelio
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (7) - Disc #1

No one expected it, but Thomas has given us the greatest Symphonie fantastique since Charles Munch's Boston Symphony recordings of the '50s and '60s. Granted, he's a fine conductor with an excellent reputation, but every...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Berlioz, Thomas, San Francisco Symphony
Title: Symphonie Fantastique / Excerpts From Lelio
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: RCA
Release Date: 5/19/1998
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Romantic (c.1820-1910), Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 090266893027

Synopsis

Amazon.com
No one expected it, but Thomas has given us the greatest Symphonie fantastique since Charles Munch's Boston Symphony recordings of the '50s and '60s. Granted, he's a fine conductor with an excellent reputation, but every conductor has his "specialties," and Thomas has always leaned towards the Russian Romantics. Berlioz is very difficult to do well: you have to respond to the almost neurotic emotional climate and orchestral brilliance with seeming abandon, while never letting the performance spin out of control. That's exactly what Thomas does. His traversal of the symphony is fanatically detailed, sensationally played and recorded, and, above all, focused. He knows exactly where the music is going, and what a pleasure it is to let your ears follow his lead! --David Hurwitz

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Member CD Reviews

Marc M. from RANSOMVILLE, NY
Reviewed on 11/3/2012...
My feelings toward this recording are summed up in the title: Fantastic Symphony !
I have 2 of these or I wouldn't be giving up this one.

CD Reviews

This is an excellent performance!
07/13/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tilson Thomas brings out the full character of each movement of the Symphonie Fantastique. This recording has an extreme style to it. Each movement conveys the appropriate mood. I love the dynamic contrasting! Some movements are a little slow at times, but the styles and fabulous playing by the San Francisco Symphony make the piece a real pleasure to listen to!"
Not inferior to classical musicians.
R. Unser | 08/07/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a classical trombonist, I will go on record as saying the musicians do NOT struggle with any passage within the symphony. Tilson Thomas' rendering is as close to flawless as I have heard. By contrast, the brass in the "incomparable London Philharmonic" sound bright, weak and tinny, while the strings are far too erratic to call a polished performance! I would rate this recording ahead of the Montreal Symphony and on par with the Concertgebouw. I own close to 15 recordings of this work and this is, by far, the best"