Berlioz Nuits d'Ete

[Barbirollians]

I have just been listening to the astonishing live 1995 recording by the late Lorraine Hunt Lieberson with McGegan . It is quite marvellous and is now up there with the Crespin and Baker in my book indeed her " Absence " tops the pair of them . I cannot recommend it too highly. It is a great regret that I never got to see her sing.

[DublinJimbo]

I've been threatening to get my hands on a copy of this since I first heard about it. It wasn't available through my usual channels then, but you've now prompted me to track it down without further ado.

Update: CD ordered from Presto Classical and dispatched this morning. Looking forward to listening to the divine Lorraine tomorrow.

[visualnickmos]

This is a marvellous piece of Berlioz - he was a composer who seemed to be able to be all things to all men - and I mean that in the most admirable sense.

I have a lovely recording of Kiri Te Kanawa with Barenboim/Orchestre de Paris. Her rather 'oily' voice seems to match the music wonderfully - a real air of mystique and a real sense of night, pervades.

[Chris Newman]

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's lovely version is on YouTube. Here is a part. I love Janet Baker and Regine Crespin as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edm7ChWuW4A

[visualnickmos]

I will look at Lorraine Hunt Lieberson via your link. I've just seen that I also have Régine Crespin with Ansermet. Yes - this too, is beautiful.

[Beef Oven]

This is a marvellous piece of Berlioz - he was a composer who seemed to be able to be all things to all men - and I mean that in the most admirable sense.

I have a lovely recording of Kiri Te Kanawa with Barenboim/Orchestre de Paris. Her rather 'oily' voice seems to match the music wonderfully - a real air of mystique and a real sense of night, pervades.

I have this recording too

[Mr Pee]

This is a marvellous piece of Berlioz - he was a composer who seemed to be able to be all things to all men - and I mean that in the most admirable sense.

Well, maybe all men...except this one.

Berlioz is a composer I can admire, for his originality, his orchestration, and his technique- but he just does not move me.

Full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

[pastoralguy]

I recently bought the Baker version (on EMI 'Studio' - a label I am determined to invest in, funds permitting!).

There's a wonderful 'fullness' to her voice that I find compelling.

I heard Kate Royal sing it with the SCO about 3 years ago. Lovely performance.

[Richard Tarleton]

I have a marvellous Katerina Karneus recording that came with the BBC Music magazine in about 2000 - BBC Phil/Sinaisky. I have heard her in opera several times and love her voice (she's a great actress too). I also hade an interesting JEGardiner recording with the Orch. de l'Opera de Lyon with different voices taking the different songs - 2 mezzos, tenor, baritone.

[Chris Newman]

Well, maybe all men...except this one.

Berlioz is a composer I can admire, for his originality, his orchestration, and his technique- but he just does not move me.

Full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Interesting that you bring Shakespeare into the discussion as I strongly believe that only Berlioz and Verdi could cope with the dramatic side of the Bard...others have tried comedy (like Britten) but Berlioz and Verdi beat him at that too.

Richard, I too like the JEG Nuits D'Ete with mixed voices. Better recorded than the Colin Davis version. Over the years I have heard glorious interpretations from Yvonne Minton and Heather Harper. Also I heard a fascinating performance from Robert Tear. The vocal score does suggest tenor. I could imagine it suiting heady voices like Leopold Simoneau or Steve Davislim to a tee.