Berlioz Romeo et Juliette Solti Cso Part2of5 Sadness, Great banquet at the Capulets

[TheVaughan5]

I am guessing this recording was made in the 80's and if so it is very disappointing.

It lacks depth, is somewhat dry and the climaxes are not incisive - I'm sure that's not the fault of Solti knowing his conducting as well as I do.

I'm not familar with Orchestra Hall, Chicago, but am sure it would have a much better acoustic than this would suggest.

[zarbithechti]

« Il va sans dire qui les extraits d’orchestre présentés ici, qui sont souvent joués indépendamment au concert (en particulier les nos. 2, 3 et 4), ne peuvent donner qu’une idée incomplète de l’ampleur et de l’originalité de l’œuvre. Le titre complet que Berlioz lui donne est "Symphonie dramatique avec Chœurs, Solos de chant et Prologue en récitatif choral, composée d’après la Tragédie de Shakespeare" ». (cf. Partitions de Berlioz, Roméo et Juliette, extraits (H 79) sur le site hberlioz.com).

[blakley42]

Ah, what glorious music-making by my home town band, the great (and I use the word advisedly) Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I was especially taken by the sweet, poignant oboe solo by Ray Still at the 5-6 minute mark--I can't imagine it being played any more affecting than that. Beyond that, the caliber of the ensemble playing is so high, so dynamic, so defined, in every section, that one must conclude that this is truly a group of virutousi. A shame so many of them are gone--they are missed.