Berlioz: Harold en Italie (2014)

Berlioz And Musical Romanticism

Hector Berlioz' (1803 -- 1869) wayward music has become synonymous with musical romanticism. The American conductor Leonard Slatkin captures the romantic Berlioz in this new recording of Harold in Italy together with three shorter works. After conducting for many years in St. Louis, Detroit, and Washington, D.C., Slatkin became the Music Director of the Orchestre National de Lyon in 2011. He conducts the orchestra in this Naxos CD as part of a projected five CDs of Berlioz. Lise Berthaud, a rising young violist, is the soloist in Harold, following her 2010 live performance of the work with Marc Minkowski at the Berlioz Festival at La-Cote-St Andre,France.

Berlioz composed Harold in Italy in 1831 under a commission from Paganini. When Paganini saw a draft of the opening movement, he disapproved because he wanted a larger part for the viola. Paganini had a marked change of heart when he heard the work's premier, apologizing profusely to Berlioz and presenting him with a substantial sum of money.

Harold is loosely based upon the long romantic poem of Lord Byron and is in four contrasting movements. The solo viola frequently represents the moody, melancholy young Harold who wanders through Italy -- as did Berlioz himself. The viola plays a sad theme commenting on and embellishing the music of the orchestra. Sometimes the viola stands out, but in other places, as Paganini noted, it has little to do. This is a work that requires passion, bravura and commitment to perform with the large dramtic and often flamboyant score. It also requires clear sound and differentiation of voices from a large virtuosic orchestra. Slatkin and the Orchestre National bring these qualities to this recording, particularly in the riotous conclusion which features both brass, and solo cello and violin. Berthaud performs with beautiful tone and lyricism, perhaps a shade on the subdued side for the music. The music wanders in place and mood from the loneliness and then joy of the opening movement to a religious procession in the second movement, to a pastoral dance and serenade of lovers, to the orgiastic finale which recapitulates the previous three movements and ends in a furious blaze. The sound is full and clear on this recording, as it must be for Berlioz, and the performance is convincing.

Berlioz excelled in composing short overtures in addition to his longer works. Slatkin conducts two of the most famous overtures on this CD, the "Roman Carnival" and "Benvenuto Cellini" both of which derive from Berlioz less than fully successful opera, Benvenuto Cellini. Both these overtures are fiery, flashy, and dramatic, with large passages for brass and winds. They receive inspired performances here.

Together with these familiar works, the CD also include another short piece based on Benvenuto Cellini, the Reverie and Caprice for orchestra and violin. Although this work is rarely performed today, it was used as a showpiece by virtuoso violinists of the 19th century. It is lavishly orchestrated with a singing part for the soloist that begins slowly and works to a lively conclusion. The concertmaster of the Orchestre Nationale de Lyon, Giovanni Radivo, captures the nature of this short romantic work for violin and orchestra.

There are many celebrated recordings of Harold in Italy and of the Berlioz overtures. Slatkin's readings may not displace the favorite versions for people who cherish this music, but both those new to the works and those who love them will enjoy this CD. It has been some time since I listened to Berlioz in depth, and I felt younger and rejuvenated by this recording. Keith Anderson's liner notes are clear and informative. Naxos kindly provided me with a copy of this CD to review.

Total Time: 70:31

Robin Friedman