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Sir Colin Davis conducts the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in this production of Berlioz's opera staged for the inauguration of the Philharmonie Münchem am Gasteig in 1985. The soloists include Hanna Schwarz, Philip Langridge and Peter Meven.
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Romeo and Giulietta / Romeo Et Juliette
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Sir Colin Davis has recorded the Berlioz 'Romeo et Juliette' several times on CD, most particularly with the London Symphony and with the Vienna Philharmonic. Interestingly, the chorus on the VPO recording is the same one used here, that of the Bavarian Radio Symphony. Those recordings, wonderful as they are, would be in some minds superseded by this DVD of a performance by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, along with soloists mezzo Hanna Schwarz, tenor Philip Langridge, and bass Peter Meven -- superseded because some have come to prefer seeing as well as hearing a concert. Certainly one's attention is engaged more strongly with the visual element. I suppose that is one reason opera DVDs have become so very popular in the last few years. As far as I know, this is the only 'Romeo et Juliette' available on DVD. And considering that the performance, the sound and the video are all superb, it's hard to imagine another one coming along any time soon. (The last time I made such a prediction, there was a new version of a fairly rare work within a couple of months!)
'Romeo et Juliette,' even though we've had more than 150 years to absorb it, continues to amaze and confound. The first question in some minds is 'what is it?'. Berlioz called it a 'symphonie dramatique,' and indeed it has some elements of the classical symphony. But, modeled as it was on Beethoven's Ninth, it has chorus and solo singers. They are not confined to the final movement as in the Beethoven but are sprinkled throughout the work, even in the first movement. Further, there is a dramatic story involved, so that one could imagine this is really a dramatic oratorio or cantata. Whatever it is, there are some peculiarities. For instance, the singers do not portray the personae in Shakespeare's play, but rather comment on the action, all of which takes place in the orchestra. The heart of the work, the scene of Romeo alone in Juliet's garden followed by their love scene, and then the Queen Mab Scherzo, are purely instrumental and yet highly dramatic -- not to forget gloriously beautiful -- music.
It is not clear when this live performance was recorded; the booklet and DVD case make no mention of copyright or performance date. From internal evidence I would guess that it was made in the early 1990s. Indeed, bass Peter Meven died in 2003 so we know it antedates that (well, duh, I guess!). Sound is spectacular in spite of it being only in the older PCM stereo (no DD5.1 or DTS5.1 here). The picture is stunningly clear. The performance took place in the Kulturzentrum Gasteig in Munich, a beautiful space with rich wooden interior and exposed organ pipes. The audience is very quiet. There are edits between movements; it is a little odd to close one movement with the orchestra alone onstage and then immediately see the chorus onstage seemingly transported there by magic. Soloists could not be better. Hanna Schwarz has a rich, plangent mezzo, Philip Langridge's diction is immaculate, and Peter Meven's bass is full and dramatic. As for the musical direction, is there anyone who has Berlioz's measure better than Sir Colin? I don't think so. He is clearly living every note and he draws exceptional playing from his orchestra.
If you love this work, you really ought to get this DVD. Even if you don't, I'd recommend it if you want to know the work better.
Subtitles of the French text are available in English, German, Spanish and, yes, French. TT=102mins.
Scott Morrison
'Romeo et Juliette,' even though we've had more than 150 years to absorb it, continues to amaze and confound. The first question in some minds is 'what is it?'. Berlioz called it a 'symphonie dramatique,' and indeed it has some elements of the classical symphony. But, modeled as it was on Beethoven's Ninth, it has chorus and solo singers. They are not confined to the final movement as in the Beethoven but are sprinkled throughout the work, even in the first movement. Further, there is a dramatic story involved, so that one could imagine this is really a dramatic oratorio or cantata. Whatever it is, there are some peculiarities. For instance, the singers do not portray the personae in Shakespeare's play, but rather comment on the action, all of which takes place in the orchestra. The heart of the work, the scene of Romeo alone in Juliet's garden followed by their love scene, and then the Queen Mab Scherzo, are purely instrumental and yet highly dramatic -- not to forget gloriously beautiful -- music.
It is not clear when this live performance was recorded; the booklet and DVD case make no mention of copyright or performance date. From internal evidence I would guess that it was made in the early 1990s. Indeed, bass Peter Meven died in 2003 so we know it antedates that (well, duh, I guess!). Sound is spectacular in spite of it being only in the older PCM stereo (no DD5.1 or DTS5.1 here). The picture is stunningly clear. The performance took place in the Kulturzentrum Gasteig in Munich, a beautiful space with rich wooden interior and exposed organ pipes. The audience is very quiet. There are edits between movements; it is a little odd to close one movement with the orchestra alone onstage and then immediately see the chorus onstage seemingly transported there by magic. Soloists could not be better. Hanna Schwarz has a rich, plangent mezzo, Philip Langridge's diction is immaculate, and Peter Meven's bass is full and dramatic. As for the musical direction, is there anyone who has Berlioz's measure better than Sir Colin? I don't think so. He is clearly living every note and he draws exceptional playing from his orchestra.
If you love this work, you really ought to get this DVD. Even if you don't, I'd recommend it if you want to know the work better.
Subtitles of the French text are available in English, German, Spanish and, yes, French. TT=102mins.
Scott Morrison
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
I was disappointed with this DVD.
I thought the camera work was very static and there's no highlighting of individual voices within the orchestral fabric.
If there's a tutti you get a shot from the highest balcony; if there's a oboe solo you get a shot of the violins etc.
The beautiful way Berlioz divided orchestral sonorities between all the instruments of the orchestra cannot be detected the way this concert has been filmed.
And be sure Berlioz was a genius for that matter!
I didn't like the long shots taken from the conductor and his wild gestures. It's undeniable that Colin Davis is the Berlioz expert but for my taste it's not necessary to see him in those long shots mimicing every single word in choir and solists.
Musically this is a great performance, the way a German orchestra plays Berlioz - not succesfull all the time - is great.
The soloists, except the bass - he's over his top, are marvellous.
I thought the camera work was very static and there's no highlighting of individual voices within the orchestral fabric.
If there's a tutti you get a shot from the highest balcony; if there's a oboe solo you get a shot of the violins etc.
The beautiful way Berlioz divided orchestral sonorities between all the instruments of the orchestra cannot be detected the way this concert has been filmed.
And be sure Berlioz was a genius for that matter!
I didn't like the long shots taken from the conductor and his wild gestures. It's undeniable that Colin Davis is the Berlioz expert but for my taste it's not necessary to see him in those long shots mimicing every single word in choir and solists.
Musically this is a great performance, the way a German orchestra plays Berlioz - not succesfull all the time - is great.
The soloists, except the bass - he's over his top, are marvellous.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
9 reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Colin Davis's Live Video Performance of 'Romeo et Juliette'
29 April 2006
By J Scott Morrison
- Published on Amazon.com
Sir Colin Davis has recorded the Berlioz 'Romeo et Juliette' several times on CD, most particularly with the London Symphony and with the Vienna Philharmonic. Interestingly, the chorus on the VPO recording is the same one used here, that of the Bavarian Radio Symphony. Those recordings, wonderful as they are, would be in some minds superseded by this DVD of a performance by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, along with soloists mezzo Hanna Schwarz, tenor Philip Langridge, and bass Peter Meven -- superseded because some have come to prefer seeing as well as hearing a concert. Certainly one's attention is engaged more strongly with the visual element. I suppose that is one reason opera DVDs have become so very popular in the last few years. As far as I know, this is the only 'Romeo et Juliette' available on DVD. And considering that the performance, the sound and the video are all superb, it's hard to imagine another one coming along any time soon. (The last time I made such a prediction, there was a new version of a fairly rare work within a couple of months!)
'Romeo et Juliette,' even though we've had more than 150 years to absorb it, continues to amaze and confound. The first question in some minds is 'what is it?'. Berlioz called it a 'symphonie dramatique,' and indeed it has some elements of the classical symphony. But, modeled as it was on Beethoven's Ninth, it has chorus and solo singers. They are not confined to the final movement as in the Beethoven but are sprinkled throughout the work, even in the first movement. Further, there is a dramatic story involved, so that one could imagine this is really a dramatic oratorio or cantata. Whatever it is, there are some peculiarities. For instance, the singers do not portray the personae in Shakespeare's play, but rather comment on the action, all of which takes place in the orchestra. The heart of the work, the scene of Romeo alone in Juliet's garden followed by their love scene, and then the Queen Mab Scherzo, are purely instrumental and yet highly dramatic -- not to forget gloriously beautiful -- music.
It is not clear when this live performance was recorded; the booklet and DVD case make no mention of copyright or performance date. From internal evidence I would guess that it was made in the early 1990s. Indeed, bass Peter Meven died in 2003 so we know it antedates that (well, duh, I guess!). Sound is spectacular in spite of it being only in the older PCM stereo (no DD5.1 or DTS5.1 here). The picture is stunningly clear. The performance took place in the Kulturzentrum Gasteig in Munich, a beautiful space with rich wooden interior and exposed organ pipes. The audience is very quiet. There are edits between movements; it is a little odd to close one movement with the orchestra alone onstage and then immediately see the chorus onstage seemingly transported there by magic. Soloists could not be better. Hanna Schwarz has a rich, plangent mezzo, Philip Langridge's diction is immaculate, and Peter Meven's bass is full and dramatic. As for the musical direction, is there anyone who has Berlioz's measure better than Sir Colin? I don't think so. He is clearly living every note and he draws exceptional playing from his orchestra.
If you love this work, you really ought to get this DVD. Even if you don't, I'd recommend it if you want to know the work better.
Subtitles of the French text are available in English, German, Spanish and, yes, French. TT=102mins.
Scott Morrison
'Romeo et Juliette,' even though we've had more than 150 years to absorb it, continues to amaze and confound. The first question in some minds is 'what is it?'. Berlioz called it a 'symphonie dramatique,' and indeed it has some elements of the classical symphony. But, modeled as it was on Beethoven's Ninth, it has chorus and solo singers. They are not confined to the final movement as in the Beethoven but are sprinkled throughout the work, even in the first movement. Further, there is a dramatic story involved, so that one could imagine this is really a dramatic oratorio or cantata. Whatever it is, there are some peculiarities. For instance, the singers do not portray the personae in Shakespeare's play, but rather comment on the action, all of which takes place in the orchestra. The heart of the work, the scene of Romeo alone in Juliet's garden followed by their love scene, and then the Queen Mab Scherzo, are purely instrumental and yet highly dramatic -- not to forget gloriously beautiful -- music.
It is not clear when this live performance was recorded; the booklet and DVD case make no mention of copyright or performance date. From internal evidence I would guess that it was made in the early 1990s. Indeed, bass Peter Meven died in 2003 so we know it antedates that (well, duh, I guess!). Sound is spectacular in spite of it being only in the older PCM stereo (no DD5.1 or DTS5.1 here). The picture is stunningly clear. The performance took place in the Kulturzentrum Gasteig in Munich, a beautiful space with rich wooden interior and exposed organ pipes. The audience is very quiet. There are edits between movements; it is a little odd to close one movement with the orchestra alone onstage and then immediately see the chorus onstage seemingly transported there by magic. Soloists could not be better. Hanna Schwarz has a rich, plangent mezzo, Philip Langridge's diction is immaculate, and Peter Meven's bass is full and dramatic. As for the musical direction, is there anyone who has Berlioz's measure better than Sir Colin? I don't think so. He is clearly living every note and he draws exceptional playing from his orchestra.
If you love this work, you really ought to get this DVD. Even if you don't, I'd recommend it if you want to know the work better.
Subtitles of the French text are available in English, German, Spanish and, yes, French. TT=102mins.
Scott Morrison
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Berlioz's Romeo et Juliette
5 Jun 2006
By T. C.
- Published on Amazon.com
Berlioz's dramatic symphony Romeo et Juliette is regarded by many as one of his finest and most original works. This piece was admired by many, like Richard Wagner, Who sent a copy of his opera Tristan und Isolde to Berlioz with a dedication: "respectfully, to the composer of Romeo and Juliet". It is easy to understand Wagner's admiration for the symphony, especially for the wonderful adagio, the love scene, that has much in common, in the profoundness and broadness of expression with Wagner's music.
Arthaus released a few months ago, a DVD with an outstanding performance of this symphony. This performance was recorded live at the Kulturzentrum Gasteig in Munich (1985). Sir Colin Davis conducts the Bavarian Radio Orchestra and Chorus. Davis is undoubtedly one of the greatest Berlioz conductors of the last fifty years. While watching him conduct, his absolute acquaintance with the score is clearly evident. Nothing escapes him and every little detail of the work is shaped with much care and love. The orchestral and choral execution is beyond reproach.
The highlights of the performance are: the mezzo wonderful strophes `Heureux enfants aux coeurs de flamme' to an accompaniment of a harp and later with a beautiful counter melody in the cellos. It is sung here with much expression and sensitivity by the German mezzo Hanna Schwarz. The very short vocal scherzo `Bientôt de Roméo la pâle rêverie' is done idiomatically by tenor Philip Langridge and the chorus.
Then the four orchestral movements that follows: `Romeo alone' - a beautiful reflective adagio that begins with a chromatic melody that reminds us the beginning of the orchestral interlude `Royal Hunt and Storm' from Les Troyens and gives a strong feeling of loneliness and anticipation. Then comes the brilliant and flamboyant Ball at the Capulets. Davis delivers this music with much panache and excitement. Than follows the great adagio, which is the greatest part of the symphonie. This is a poetic and noble performance. Watching Davis conduct at this point reinforce immensely the experience. Davis interpretation of the next orchestral movement - The Queen Mab Scherzo has liveliness and airiness as needed and the orchestral playing is precise and transparent.
The finale is dominated by the bass. The singer is new to me: Peter Meven. French diction is not perfect, but the singing is very good. The symphony is ending with the conciliation between the rival families. The bass soloist begins the oath `Jurez donc par l'auguste symbole'. The chorus joins in and the music grows to a gigantic fortissimo that in this visual performance has an immense effect on the viewer while watching Davis total involvement with the music.
It was a thrilling experience for me, as a devoted Berlioz fan, but I am sure that this DVD will bring much pleasure to any lover of good romantic music. Picture and sound quality are very good. Highly recommended!!
Arthaus released a few months ago, a DVD with an outstanding performance of this symphony. This performance was recorded live at the Kulturzentrum Gasteig in Munich (1985). Sir Colin Davis conducts the Bavarian Radio Orchestra and Chorus. Davis is undoubtedly one of the greatest Berlioz conductors of the last fifty years. While watching him conduct, his absolute acquaintance with the score is clearly evident. Nothing escapes him and every little detail of the work is shaped with much care and love. The orchestral and choral execution is beyond reproach.
The highlights of the performance are: the mezzo wonderful strophes `Heureux enfants aux coeurs de flamme' to an accompaniment of a harp and later with a beautiful counter melody in the cellos. It is sung here with much expression and sensitivity by the German mezzo Hanna Schwarz. The very short vocal scherzo `Bientôt de Roméo la pâle rêverie' is done idiomatically by tenor Philip Langridge and the chorus.
Then the four orchestral movements that follows: `Romeo alone' - a beautiful reflective adagio that begins with a chromatic melody that reminds us the beginning of the orchestral interlude `Royal Hunt and Storm' from Les Troyens and gives a strong feeling of loneliness and anticipation. Then comes the brilliant and flamboyant Ball at the Capulets. Davis delivers this music with much panache and excitement. Than follows the great adagio, which is the greatest part of the symphonie. This is a poetic and noble performance. Watching Davis conduct at this point reinforce immensely the experience. Davis interpretation of the next orchestral movement - The Queen Mab Scherzo has liveliness and airiness as needed and the orchestral playing is precise and transparent.
The finale is dominated by the bass. The singer is new to me: Peter Meven. French diction is not perfect, but the singing is very good. The symphony is ending with the conciliation between the rival families. The bass soloist begins the oath `Jurez donc par l'auguste symbole'. The chorus joins in and the music grows to a gigantic fortissimo that in this visual performance has an immense effect on the viewer while watching Davis total involvement with the music.
It was a thrilling experience for me, as a devoted Berlioz fan, but I am sure that this DVD will bring much pleasure to any lover of good romantic music. Picture and sound quality are very good. Highly recommended!!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clarifying the Date
29 Nov 2008
By Joseph L. Ponessa
- Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase
This recording captures the climactic moment of Colin Davis' tenure as director of the Bayerischen Rundfunks Symphonieorchester (from 1979 onwards), when the orchestra took residence in their new home. This performance of Berlioz' ROMÉO ET JULIETTE took place officially to inaugurate the Philharmonie Münchem am Gasteig on the 22nd of November in 1985. Americans had a chance to see it first as a PBS Great Performances telecast on the 1st of November in 1988, and then it became available as a Pioneer Artists laserdisc in 1992.
There was another laserdisc on the London label with Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in just the orchestral movements of this work (53 minutes) in 1977. Neither sound nor picture could match the Munich recording.
There was another laserdisc on the London label with Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in just the orchestral movements of this work (53 minutes) in 1977. Neither sound nor picture could match the Munich recording.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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