James Levine Conducts Saint-saëns, Dukas & Berlioz - DG First Choice CD

Description: Dedicated to one of the great composers of the Romantic era and often received more enthusiastically in Britain and America than in France, this symphony was always one of Saint-Sans's most cosmopolitan works. So, while Levine's performance with the Berlin Philharmonic may not have Gallic-sounding woodwind and brass, their performance is fresh, alert and wholly convincing. The main Allegro moderato of the first movement reveals Levine's strong feeling for rhythmic propulsion, his scrupulous attention to the detail of the score, clear articulation and a sure sense of phrasing. The song like lyricism of the slow movement is beautifully captured by Levine and his orchestra, without any sentimentality and with sensitive support from Simon Preston. In the scherzo it is the combination of clear, energetic rhythms and a fine sense of line that makes this per-formance so compelling. The advantage of recording the orchestra and organ in the same hall (not always the case) is very apparent in the finale, and here Preston and Levine relish every moment. Levine was chosen to conduct the music for Disney's Fantasia 2000, and Dukas's Sorcerer's Apprentice was the only work from the original 1940 film to be reused. His 1986 Berlin recording of the piece shows Levine's interpretative flair combined with a detailed seriousness of purpose: like all the work's finest performances, this one seeks out the darker forces lying behind the brilliant inventiveness of Dukas's orchestration. The same characteristics and zest come across in the recordings of Berlioz overtures made five years later - further striking evidence of James Levine's sympathy for French music.

Price: 6.99 GBP

Location: Huddersfield

End Time: 2024-10-25T10:06:21.000Z

Shipping Cost: 20.19 GBP