Album

Sylvain Cambreling's excellent survey of Hector Berlioz's works for Haenssler Classic continues with this 2009 release of the "symphony with viola obbligato," Harold en Italie, Op. 16. Essentially a viola concerto cast in the structure of a programmatic symphony, this work was Berlioz's follow-up to his extravagant Symphonie fantastique and shares with it some of the same flashes of orchestral brilliance, formal novelty, and autobiographical eccentricity. Of prominence in this performance is violist Jean-Eric Soucy, who brings great warmth and presence to his role as the soloist-protagonist. Because this is not an especially showy part but rather more lyrical in expression, Soucy sustains interest through his highly personal tone, and his focused delivery communicates the Romantic character of Lord Byron's "Childe Harold." Harold en Italie is presented with three popular orchestral selections from La Damnation de Faust—the Marche Hongroise or "Rákóczy March," the Ballet des Sylphes, and the Menuet des follets—and the Chasse royal et orage (Royal Hunt and Storm) from the opera Les Troyens, so this album is a marvelous display of Berlioz's music at its most inventive and colorful, and Cambreling and the SWR Symphony Orchestra of Baden-Baden and Freiburg perform with abundant enthusiasm, clean execution, and vivid timbres. Haenssler's sound quality is superb, and the viola is centrally placed in Harold, giving it a special treatment that is sometimes lacking in other recordings.

© Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide

CD 1
Hector Berlioz Composer Harold en Italie (Harold in Italy), H.68, Op.16 Work Recorded 2002 41:25 SWR Baden-Baden and Freiburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Sylvain Cambreling Conductor, Jean-Eric Soucy Viola
1	1.Harold aux montagnes	15:09			$2.49
2	2.Marche de pèlerins chantant la prière du soir	7:34			$1.49
3	3.Sérénade d'un montagnard des Abruzzes à sa maîtresse	6:50			$0.99
4	4.Orgie de brigands. Souvenir des scènes précédentes	11:52			$1.99
Hector Berlioz Composer La Damnation de Faust, Op.24 (légende dramatique) Work Recorded 2007 15:16 SWR Baden-Baden and Freiburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Sylvain Cambreling Conductor
5	Part I: Scene 3: Hungarian March, "Rakoczy March"	4:16			$0.99
6	Part II: Scene 7: Ballet des syphes (Dance of the Spirits)	5:16			$0.99
7	Part III: Scene 12: Minuet of the Wills-o'-the-Wisp	5:44			$0.99
Hector Berlioz Composer Les Troyens (The Trojans), H.133a, Op.5 (opera)...Act 4 Work Recorded 2007 SWR Baden-Baden and Freiburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Sylvain Cambreling Conductor
8	Les Troyens, Act IV: Chasse Royale et Orage (Royal Hunt and Storm)	9:24			$1.49