Charles Munch conducts Berlioz (vaimusic.com)

[tsuaFzneiH]

No, I'm not disappointed by the speed of this interpretation. But it's a bit striking that it begins in the rather typical speed of this piece and then suddenly bursts out.

[NRob84]

Wow so fast, probably the fastest I've heard it played! I love the energy!

[Maralegar2009]

interesting ....

[idamante74]

Начало необычное и захватывающее даже, но после движение становится каким-то опереточным и теряет серьезность. Странно, не думал, что мне так не понравится...

[bradpint]

way to fast!!!

[Wirbowsky]

His tempo eradicates the possibility of music. This is exciting music made boring, a complete travesty.

[bayridgemaestro]

@Wirbowsky I am not sure what you know of Charles Munch and his expertise on French Repertoire but none of the BSO players still living in this recording found this boring. I also find this exciting and a great take on a movement that at times can see lothargic.

[ipmoic]

Munch's RCA Victor recording of the Fantastique from the 1950's is, to my mind, the greatest of all time. The finale will truly make you hair stand on end! This movement is performed a bit more slowly on the recording. This performance really pushes the limit (!) but what a wild ride.

Quite the workout for the 4 bassoonists....

[copleysq]

Charles Munch is the greatest conductor we have in recordings. As a prominent critic said in those days, the BSO under Charles Munch is a cultural achievement comparable to The Parthenon. Limiting myself here to brief comment, I refer you all to slow movement of Beethoven Ninth; and dig great Everett Firth elsewhere in same recording. We must mention BSO princess, the great Doriot Anthony Dwyer (flute), and the great Richard Burgin (concertmaster).

[etucker82]

Man, I love Charles Munch as much as the next music lover, but to call him the greatest is putting your sights just a little bit too high. To be sure, he's up there. But there are just too many other candidates to back that up.

[SecretJudge]

Strange- looks like a baritone and a tuba. I thought it was usually 2 tubas

[PENNSY671E]

I've never heard it done this fast.. They stayed with him. Some amazing ensemble - this group of legendary performers.

[Kirbissimo]

Why is the performance in Sanders Theater at Harvard? Because that is definitely Sanders, not Symphony Hall.

[twcinnh]

The BSO had a regular series at

Sanders Theater, and they were all broadcast.

For Voisin fans WGBH had an interview with him on its website shortly after he passed. He mentioned his beginning and how his father (a BSO member) was against it. (Koussevitsky was felt to be a bit too harsh for players that young.) I remember he also commented that no 2 of Munch's performances were the same.

I subscribed to BSO concerts during Munch's last year. That was a phenomenal experience.

Tom

[jnbarrer]

thanks for posting this.

wow, that brings back great memories. Voisin was my hero when i was a high school student in the GBYSO in the early '60s. Each year we got to play a concert with the BSO; 1/2 youth symphony players and 1/2 BSO. I sat between Ghitalla and Voisin, both of whom were very supportive of us. I still have all of Voisin's records; Music for Trumpet and Orchestra; although they are somewhat worn from many hours of playing them.

[moosatious]

One might say that at times, Munch was capable of out Furtwanglering Furtwangler. But Furtwangler, exciting as he often was, never had quite the articulation you professional musicians have noted here. Somewhere I have a tape of a live Brahms 1st from about the same time. Any other performance is dull by comparison.

[MatthewRobertsJazz]

My old teacher - Vic on Timpani! Right that's he's the greatest ever. That's what Munch, Ozawa and other greats said.

[sing212]

roger voisin at his greatest...the articulation and focus to his sound was his signature...you can hear him in the daphnes and la mer...you see ghitalla on third and andre come on second...gerry goguen on fourth...harry shapiro and stagliano on horn...very exciting and energizing...although there maybe different views on the "french" sound this is the golden age

[ipmoic]

Exactly right gkb8282--boy was I having trouble with bassoonists that day! Sherman Walt is was. Many thanks for the correction. Were you acquainted with him? Terrible tragedy about his unpleasant, unnecessary death.Did you know the great Eli Carmen? Another senseless death by automobile.

[srg2457]

I'm sorry, but I just don't see why this deserves such a high rating. It's the "March to the Scaffold", not the "Preliminary Warm Up and Sprint to the Scaffold", and there was little weirdness to the performance, which misses the point of Berlioz in general, and the SF in particular.

But what do I know - lots of people seem to rave about Munch's Berlioz...

[aretrospection]

The French march to the measure, not the beat like Americans.  That is why it is so fast.

[jabsomdoc]

im not sure that you're right about that. the quirkiness of this performance may be well suited for this piece especially since berlioz was inspired by a very quirky and surreal dream of being marched to the scaffold.

[gkb8282]

excuse me; that was the late Sherman Walt on 1st bassoon. BG was principal in Philly.

[ipmoic]

Or Ralph Gomberg-Oboe or Bernard Goldberg-Bassoon. Too bad Harold Wright-the great clarinetist came a few years later--although for this music, Gino Cioffi's strident tone works well! Look for the Victor recording from the '50's when Munch was at the top of his game. After you've heard them all, Boston's is THE best Fantastique. The finale-pagan and magnificent.

[HalWeller]

OMG....Charley Munch at his wildest!! :)) And, yes, Firth is fabulous...Wow! (Can one say that about Voisin though?)

[niubilly]

Has there EVER been a greater timpanist than Vic Firth??!!

Nope!!!!

[Asfagel]

a powerful piece of fantastic music ^^

[tolstoi]

Checker !

[zzzzoooor]

.......Bravissimo..........

[tubaguy63]

Wow - he has fast tempi.