Hector Berlioz (1803–1869) - L’enfance du Christ - London Symphony Orchestra, sir Colin Davis - Various soloists - LSO 0606 (2007) Hector Berlioz – L’enfance du Christ London Symphony Orchestra, sir Colin Davis Yann Beuron - Karen Cargill - William Dazeley Matthew Rose - Peter Rose - Tenebrae Choir, Nigel Short Classical | DR15-15 | 2ch & Mch Hybrid | DSD Recording | PDF LSO Live | 2xSACD-rip via Cambridge Audio CXU to iso (2.63 GB & 3.49 GB) Colin Davis, currently the grand old man of Berlioz conductors, has recorded the French romantic's L'Enfance du Christ an amazing three times: first on L'oiseau-Lyre LPs (not issued on CD), then on Philips (frequently issued on LP and CD), and now on LSO Live (issued on CD with super audio surround sound capabilities). While not perhaps the most emotional Berlioz conducer in history, Davis' more measured approach suits the more meditative L'Enfance. All three of his recordings are quite fine, but the sound quality gets slightly better with each newer edition. Those equipped for SACD multichannel replay will find the LSO Live SACD provides a significant plus in atmosphere, putting the listener into the hall with the orchestra, chorus, and soloists. There are, however, other L'Enfance du Christs as good or better than Davis': Charles Münch's energetic and enjoyable recording on RCA and Andre Cluytens' elegant and opulent recording on EMI. Since the latter has perhaps the finest set of soloists in Victoria de los Angeles, Nicolai Gedda, Ernest Blanc, and Roger Soyer and comes coupled with Giulini's outstanding Chicago Symphony performance of the symphonic sections of Berlioz's Romeo and Juliet, it may be many listeners' first choice. Plus, there is an interesting DVD of Münch leading a live performance from the same time as his RCA recording taped in good black and white with decent sound quality. For anyone who finds added value in straight concert videos, this one is well-worth seeing. In sum, then, Cluytens', Münch's, and any or all of Davis' L'Enfance du Christ would make a great addition to any Berlioz library. allmusic.com It is in terms of this vivid quality that Colin Davis’s third recording of the piece scores particularly highly. A devoted interpreter of the composer’s music, of which he was certainly the greatest champion in his day, Davis undertook his final Berlioz cycle as the London Symphony Orchestra’s music director – a post he held from 1995-2006. We named the London Symphony Orchestra as one of the best orchestras in the world. By then he had already made two recordings of the piece – the first in 1960, with the Goldsborough Orchestra and soloists including Elsie Morrison, Peter Pears and John Cameron (Decca); and the second in 1976 with the LSO and principals including Janet Baker, Eric Tappy and Jules Bastin (Philips). Both of these have much to recommend them, but the result of a lifetime’s experience of the score and the impetus of a live recording in the Barbican Hall give this final version from 2006 particular electricity. Davis brings lightness and lucidity to Berlioz’s score – ‘it’s very delicate chamber music as a whole’, he once said – but his performance also reflects the work’s operatic or even (as Davis also suggested) cinematic quality, aided by Yann Beuron’s crisp, native French-speaking Narrator, while the small scene between Beuron’s Centurion and Peter Rose’s Polydorus is unusually striking. Matthew Rose supplies a dark-souled Herod – an individual at the very end of his tether, sombre in expression. Karen Cargill defines Mary with impeccable steadiness and tonal warmth, while William Dazeley responds with a Joseph of equivalent quality and Peter Rose evokes the hospitable Ishmaelite Father in the final scene with a broad generosity of tone. The luxurious choir is Tenebrae, whose thorough musicianship and ample yet varied tone form an ideal combination; Davis also discovers an authentic rustic quality to complement the choral richness of the famous ‘Shepherds’ Farewell’. Throughout the performance conductor and orchestra enter enthusiastically into the characteristically Berlioz’s distinctive, subtle and complex soundworld, with its rich palette of carefully selected colours and a fineness of detail that rewards focussed listening. While there’s never any sense of hurry in his interpretation, Davis nonetheless always manages to keep the score on the move, even in the delightful playfulness of the trio for two flutes and harp in the final scene: this is a point when – in the wrong hands – the score can seem to sag. Colin Davis’s are very much the right hands. classical-music.com Tracklist: L' Enfance du Christ, oratorio for soprano, 2 tenors, baritone, 3 basses, chorus & orchestra ("trilogie sacrée") H. 130 (Op. 25) (1850-1854) Disc 1 1. Part I, Le Songe d'Hérode, prologue - Dans la créche, en ce temps 01:53 2. Part I, Le Songe d'Hérode, scene 1 - Marche Nocturne 08:25 3. Part I, Le Songe d'Hérode, scenes 2 & 3 - Toujours ce rêve! 08:49 4. Part I, Le Songe d'Hérode, scene 4 - Les sages de Judée 03:33 5. Part I, Le Songe d'Hérode, scene 4 - Les Devins font des évolutions 01:28 6. Part I, Le Songe d'Hérode, scene 4 - La voix dit vrai, Seigneur 04:11 7. Part I, Le Songe d'Hérode, scene 5 - O mon cher fils 08:20 8. Part I, Le Songe d'Hérode, scene 6 - Joseph! Marie! 04:21 Disc 2 1. Part II, La Fuite en Égypte, Ouverture 06:25 2. Part II, La Fuite en Égypte, The Shepherds Farewell to the Holy Family 07:15 3. Part II, La Fuite en Égypte, The Holy Family at Rest 04:32 4. Part III, L'Arrivée a Sïs, Depuis trois jours 06:39 5. Part III, L'Arrivée a Sïs,, Dans cette ville immense 03:33 6. Part III, L'Arrivée a Sïs,entrez pauvres Hébreux 05:25 7. Part III, L'Arrivée a Sïs,- Trio for two flutes and harp 07:36 8. Part III, L'Arrivée a Sïs, - Vous pleurez, jeune mére 06:23 9. Part III, L'Arrivée a Sïs, - Ce fut ainsi que par un infidèle 04:27 10. Part III, L'Arrivée a Sïs, - O mon âme 03:08 Total playing time 01:36:23 Personnel: Yann Beuron, tenor - The Narrator/Centurion Karen Cargill, mezzo-soprano - Marie William Dazeley, baritone - Joseph Matthew Rose, bass - Herod Peter Rose, bass - Father/Polydorus London Symphony Orchestra Sir Colin Davis, conductor Tenebrae Choir Nigel Short, choir director Jocelyne Dienst, musical assistant James Mallinson, producer Daniele Quilleri, casting consultant Classic Sound Ltd recording, editing and mastering facilities Jonathan Stokes and Neil Hutchinson for Classic Sound Ltd balance engineers Ian Watson and Jenni Whiteside for Classic Sound Ltd editors A high density DSD (Direct Stream Digital) recording Recorded live at the Barbican, London, UK, 2 and 3 December 2006 Checksums: for disc 1 MD5: b1995086803dbe574e6c4389d7f1d089 *BERLIOZ L'enfance du Christ (disc 1-2).iso SFV: BERLIOZ L'enfance du Christ (disc 1-2).iso 06450FCD for disc 2 MD5: 61d11ea486ab20cb4ec8ebad62e12348 *BERLIOZ L'enfance du Christ (disc 2-2).iso SFV: BERLIOZ L'enfance du Christ (disc 2-2).iso 152E5DA2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ8qcVdh1O0 https://www.filefactory.com/folder/d9a83dfee1284a9e