Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Richard Strauss: Don Juan

Temirkanov conducts a well thought out and exciting account of this work, which is not an easy piece to individualise. Here, the quiet passages have eloquence, charm, passion. or whatever emotion the music demands, and the end of the March to the Scaffold has a massive 'rit' which serves to add to the climax that develops over the course of that movement. This conductor is always reliable for any listener who hopes to hear something new and original in a familiar work, but 'The Ball' is strangely 'straight', almost as though a different conductor played that movement. Four stars anyway, but I wish 'The Ball' enthralled me as much as the rest, then I would have given it five stars.

There are many fine recordings of Berlioz masterpiece "Symphonie Fantastique" and in my opinion this is one of them. It's played by the excellent Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in their SACD digital series of classic works they began in the mid 1990s. The late Sir Charles MacKerras had conducted the RPO in quite a few of these classic works and draws another wonderful performance from them with the "Symphonie Fantastique." The powerful RPO strings are the real strength throughout this five movement Symphony with nice lilting woodwind, strong brass and menacing percussion. Also included is one of Berlioz many overtures "Le Carnaval Romain" which is on before the "Symphonie Fantastique" They are both a real treat to listen to, especially in enhanced digital sound. Plus, you don't need a SACD player to enjoy this recording as it can be played in normal ones.

The performance is wonderful.But the sound which is heard from a loudspeaker when SACD is played, is reverse of left and right.To the right, violin. To the left, bass.To the right, French horn. To the left, trombone and tuba.