Berlioz overtures - recordings compared

[BBMmk2]

Les Francs-Juges

I really don't know what possessed Beecham (1954) in this piece! He plays not only the slow intro under tempo (most conductors seem to), but also the allegro - crotchet about 110 against the marked 160. Of course, the marking in the Eulenburg score might not be authentic, but even so! He takes a full two minutes longer than Previn, who is excellent here.

Rather unusual, to say the least. Beecham always, or nearly, it seems, to be truthful to the score. Previn, imo, was an excellent Berlioz interpreter.

[cloughie]

Rather unusual, to say the least. Beecham always, or nearly, it seems, to be truthful to the score. Previn, imo, was an excellent Berlioz interpreter.

[rauschwerk]

Previn, imo, was an excellent Berlioz interpreter.

I'm sure he learnt well from his time with Monteux. His Requiem is excellent and his Symphonie Fantastique pretty good, as I recall.

[BBMmk2]

I'm sure he learnt well from his time with Monteux. His Requiem is excellent and his Symphonie Fantastique pretty good, as I recall.

Absolutely. I’ve played them both recently.

[Once Was 4]

Beecham's still sounds so fresh and exciting. Heard it first as a schoolboy and still knocks the socks off me! Great recording too - 'historical' seems somehow to do it an injustice!

Me too! I still have and play this LP (now very worn) after it was purchased by my mother 55 years ago when I was 17.

Sorry to lower the tone of this thread but I remember depping with the Halle somewhere during a period when they were recording a set of Berlioz overtures (I think with James Loughran). I heard a conversation between two players - "who wants to buy a record of bloody Berlioz overtures?" I nearly piped up "me!" but those were the days when young deps kept their ears open and their mouths shut if they knew what was good for them. Very different to today!

[HighlandDougie]

I remember depping with the Halle somewhere during a period when they were recording a set of Berlioz overtures (I think with James Loughran).

https://www.discogs.com/Berlioz-Hall%C3%A9-Orchestra-James-Loughran-Berlioz-Overtures/release/6495773

Did it ever make it to CD? I was working in Manchester when this was recorded and remember - I think - a pretty fizzing performance of Carnival Romain.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

https://www.discogs.com/Berlioz-Hall...elease/6495773
Did it ever make it to CD? I was working in Manchester when this was recorded and remember - I think - a pretty fizzing performance of Carnival Romain.

For less than the price of each of the LP releases when they were first released (£2.49, IIRC) you can get a Used copy of the double CD set of the Loughran SymFan and the Overtures.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B000025VIL

[Barbirollians]

The Loughran Overtures got a generally positive review from John Warrack in Gramophone though he thought the cor anglais solo a bit formal - he didn't like the Fantastique much considering it disappointing.

[cloughie]

The Loughran Overtures got a generally positive review from John Warrack in Gramophone though he thought the cor anglais solo a bit formal - he didn't like the Fantastique much considering it disappointing.

...but then reviewers don’t always get it right! Sounds fine to me.