Tag Archives: Berlioz
Finale 39 – Benvenuto Cellini
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 30th November 2023Hector Berlioz was among the most innovative and original of all the great composers. His first opera loosely based on an episode from the Renaissance artist’s memoirs was written in 1838. It sounds like nothing that preceded it. The music moves like the molten metal that is used to cast Cellini’s famous statue of Perseus…
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Recording of the Month – Benvenuto Cellini
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 11th September 2022Hector Berlioz (1803-66) was a composer of such unique gifts that he deserves a place among the great composers all to himself. So original were his ideas and talents that even after more than a century and a half after his death, we still struggle to keep up with him. He invented the modern symphony…
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La damnation de Faust at the Proms
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 22nd August 2017On August 8, this year John Eliot Gardiner directed the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique in a performance of Berlioz’ La damnation de Faust for the BBC Proms. The soloists were Ann Hallenberg, Michael Spyres, and bass Laurent Naouri. The great choral part was sung by The Monteverdi Choir and the National Youth Choir of Scotland. Berlioz…
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Les Troyens in HD – The Repeat
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 24th January 2013Hector Berlioz’s massive masterpiece about the fall of Troy and its aftermath was repeated in Lubbock last night before a small group of opera lovers; only four made it to the end which was precisely at midnight. There are few, if any, composers who were as original as Berlioz and therein lies both his appeal and the…
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Bryan Hymel in Les Troyens at the Met
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 5th January 2013The Metropolitan Opera presented Berlioz’ gargantuan epic Les Troyens today to its HD audience. Because of another commitment I was unable to attend the performance. I’ll catch the repeat. But I did get to hear the last act. Tenor Marcello Giordani was supposed to the sing the opera’s most challenging role – Aeneas. But he withdrew…
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La Damnation de Faust: Berlioz and Video Projection
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 23rd November 2008The Met’s new production of Berlioz’s I don’t know what to call it but it’s a masterpiece La Damnation de Faust was broadcast in HD on Saturday Nov 22, 2008. Robert Lepage directed the show making extensive use of computerized video images. Though Berlioz intended the piece to be a concert work, it has been…
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