BaL 16.11.24 - Berlioz: Les nuits d'été

[vinteuil]

Back to topic, though, I much preferred what I heard of Veronique Gens' recording this morning to Jessye N (a gorgeous voice in much repertoire, but not for me here). Though again, FWIW, Balleys/Herreweghe remains my top choice - a favourite ever since I first bought it, nearly 30 years ago,

... yes, for me Gens and Balleys reign supreme.

I didn't hear the programme : which of the two Gens recordings did they consider?




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[HighlandDougie]

It was the earlier of her two recordings, i.e. on Erato with Louis Langrée and the Lyon Opera Orchestra

[vinteuil]

It was the earlier of her two recordings, i.e. on Erato with Louis Langrée and the Lyon Opera Orchestra

... thank you! (Tho' ideally one shd have both... )



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[Barbirollians]

FWIW, I find Albrecht's Lied vd Erde anything but dreary, and Alice Coote's contributions amongst the very best. Back to topic, though, I much preferred what I heard of Veronique Gens' recording this morning to Jessye N (a gorgeous voice in much repertoire, but not for me here). Though again, FWIW, Balleys/Herreweghe remains my top choice - a favourite ever since I first bought it, nearly 30 years ago,

To each their own - Coote is its only redemption but she is not a patch on Ferrier/Baker and Ludwig. The conducting is ordinary and the tenor nasal and dry.

[Pulcinella]

Recommended version:
Jessye Norman (soprano)
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Colin Davis
Philips 4124932

(Also added to OP.)

[Nick Armstrong]

Another one for your list, Alpie, and one to which I'm rather partial: Brigitte Balleys and l'Orchestre des Champs-Elysées under Herreweghe

Love that disc - wonderful woody clarinets etc. especially when they warble underneath the line "Cette rive, ma chère, on ne la connaît guère" in the final song. Singer's my sort of gal too

Mention of the Balleys recording above and in this BAL sent me back to the discussion in 2014 (at the time subsumed in a general thread about Berlioz) which preceded Christopher Cook’s BAL on the same work, and I see this enthusiasm on my part for that reading - which went on to be CC’s top choice for the work. Must dig it out and have another listen, haven’t heard it for years….

[gurnemanz]

I'm grateful to this thread for updating me on this BaL, which I did not listen to. (I have not listened to any BaLs since the irksome time change). Coincidentally, I had recently acquired Régine Crespin 1927-2007 – a Tribute and have greatly enjoyed working through those recordings, which include her Nuits d'été with Ansermet and Suisse Romande. I was also sent back to Brigitte Balleys/Herrweghe which I retrieved from the Harmonia Mundi 50th Anniversary Box and hadn't played for a while. Both are exquisite and are probably my favourite versions.

I was prompted to make a delightful sideways move to Brigitte Balleys and others in Chausson mélodies.

[vinteuil]

I was also sent back to Brigitte Balleys/Herrweghe which I retrieved from the Harmonia Mundi 50th Anniversary Box and hadn't played for a while. Both are exquisite and are probably my favourite versions.

... I had forgotten that the Brigitte Balleys Nuits d'été was in the HM 50th anniversary box which is sitting on the very top shelf!

But I don't regret the £3.70 I spent on the separate CD, which also has Mireille Delunsch in Herminie

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berlioz-nuits-dete-Herminie-Hector/dp/B0000007A1

[Nick Armstrong]

I had recently acquired Régine Crespin 1927-2007 – a Tribute and have greatly enjoyed working through those recordings, which include her Nuits d'été with Ansermet and Suisse Romande.

As others have said, it’s daft that Régine Crespin’s performance didn’t even get a verbal mention in this BAL…

[pastoralguy]

Currently listening to Hildegard Behrens on DECCA. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra conducted by Francis Travis. Gramophone rates it as very good but not great.