Part of Singers on Singing: Composer Profiles
This feature does not in any way set out to be comprehensive. Instead it offers the opportunity to hear in audio files comments by distinguished performer-scholars on elements of singing music by Hector Berlioz. The artists are baritone José van Dam, baritone Thomas Hampson, and pianist and accompanist Graham Johnson. There are also relevant music clips, all of which are extracted from Warner Classics’ new 27 CD set “Hector Berlioz – The Complete Works” (Catalogue number 9029561444), which includes some music that has never before been recorded. We are deeply grateful to Warner Classics for generously allowing the use of all the extracts in this feature, as we are to them for granting the use of extracts from their famed catalogue elsewhere in all our other Singing on Singers features.
-Jon Tolansky
Hector Berlioz: The Complete Recordings
Hector Berlioz, France’s greatest Romantic composer, exemplifies the spirit of his age – yet his genius was also ahead of its time. Reflecting his colourful life, his music is astonishing for its originality and ambition, and for orchestration of groundbreaking brilliance. This, the first-ever complete Berlioz edition, comprises carefully selected recordings and even includes works completely new to the catalogue. The accompanying booklet, lavishly illustrated, contains a fascinating commentary from Berlioz biographer David Cairns, whose words bring the composer’s music still more vividly to life.
Warner Classics: 0190295614447
Audio Feature
Audio File 1 is an overview of Berlioz as composer and person in the context of his time and with particular reference to his innovations in song and opera.
The commentary is by Graham Johnson. (at 04’34”, “Emmet” refers to Robert Emmet, the Irish martyr who was executed for his role in the 1803 Irish Rebellion).
The music extracts are:
Irlande: L’origine de la harpe – Thomas Hampson, accompanied by Geoffrey Parsons.
Irllande: Elégie – Thomas Hampson, accompanied by Geoffrey Parsons.
Les Troyens, Act V: Adieu Fière Cité – Joyce DiDonato (Didon), Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, conductor John Nelson.
Audio File 2 focuses on Berlioz and Harriet Smithson, Berlioz’s immersion in the poetry of Thomas Moore, and the song cycle Irlande.
The commentary is by Graham Johnson and Thomas Hampson.
The music extracts are:
Irlande: Adieu Bessy – Thomas Hampson, accompanied by Geoffrey Parsons.
Irlande: Le coucher du soleil – Thomas Hampson, accompanied by Geoffrey Parsons.
Irlande: La belle voyageuse – Thomas Hampson, accompanied by Geoffrey Parsons.
Audio File 3 discusses Berlioz and revolution, the Irish Rebellion, and the link between revolution and the Romantic Movement in France.
The commentary is by Thomas Hampson and Graham Johnson.
The music extracts are:
Irlande: Chant guerrier – Rolando Villazon, Laurent Naouri, David Bismuth, Chœur Les elements.
Scène héroïque (La Révolution grecque): Des sommets de l’Olympe – Nicolas Rivenq (Prêtre grec),
Laurent Naouri (Héros grec), Chœur Les elements, Orchestra National du Capitole de Toulouse, conductor Michel Plasson.
Audio File 4 features Les nuits d’été, its place in the history of the Mélodie, and the vocal and stylistic demands of performing the cycle.
The commentary is by Thomas Hampson.
The music extracts are:
Les nuits d’été: Le spectre de la rose – Catherine Robbin, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon, conductor John Eliot Gardiner.
Les nuits d’été: Sur les lagunes – Gilles Cachemaille, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon, conductor John Eliot Gardiner.
Audio File 5 is given over to La damnation de Faust, with consideration of differences between Berlioz’s and Gounod’s portrayals of Méphistophélès, and observations on the vocal and orchestral writing and performance exigencies.
The commentary is by José van Dam.
The music extracts are:
La damnation de Faust, Scene 5: O pure emotion – José van Dam, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon, conductor Kent Nagano
La damnation de Faust, Scene 6: À boire encore, du vin – José van Dam, Choeur et Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon, conductor Kent Nagano
La damnation de Faust, Scene 6: Une puce gentile – José van Dam, Choeur et Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon, conductor Kent Nagano
La damnation de Faust, Scene 7: Voici des roses – José van Dam, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon, conductor Kent Nagano
La damnation de Faust, Scene 7: Ballet des Sylphes –Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon, conductor Kent Nagano
