Audio CD review:
Hector Berlioz, John Nelson, Orchestre National de France, Gregory Kunde, Patrizia Ciofi, Joyce DiDonato, Jean-Francois Lapointe, Laurent Naouri, Renaud Delaigue, Choeur de Radio France - Berlioz - Benvenuto Cellini

Hector Berlioz, John Nelson, Orchestre National de France, Gregory Kunde, Patrizia Ciofi, Joyce DiDonato, Jean-Francois Lapointe, Laurent Naouri, Renaud Delaigue, Choeur de Radio France - Berlioz - Benvenuto Cellini

Band: Hector Berlioz, John Nelson, Orchestre National de France, Gregory Kunde, Patrizia Ciofi, Joyce DiDonato, Jean-Francois Lapointe, Laurent Naouri, Renaud Delaigue, Choeur de Radio France Title: Berlioz - Benvenuto Cellini Rating: Release Date: 11 January, 2005 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Ouverture 2: No. I. Introduction: Teresa! Mais Ou Peut-Elle Etre? 3: Air: Ne Regardez Jamais La Lune 4: No. 2. Choeur Des Masques: Enfin Il Est Sorti 5: No. 3a. Recit Et Romance: Les Belles Fleurs! 6: Romance: Ah! Que L'amour Une Fois Dans Le Coeur 7: Heureuse Celle A Qui Jamais L'amour 8: No. 4. Trio: Cellini! 9: O Mon Bonheur, Vous Que J'aime 10: Ah! Mourir, Chere Belle 11: No. 5. Recitatif: Ceil! Nous Sommes Perdus 12: No. 6. Final: A Nous, Voisines Et Servantes! 13: Ah, Maitre Drole! 14: No. 8. Scene Et Choeur: A Boire, A Boire! 15: Chant Des Ciseleurs: Si La Terre Aux Beaux Jours Se Couronne 16: Amis, Avant Qu'on Recommence 17: Air (Ascanio): Cette Somme T'est Due 18: Ecoutez, Tout A L'heure 19: No. 9. Recitatif: C'est Trop Fort! 20: No. 10. Air: Ah! Qui Pourrait Me Resister? 21: No. 11. Recitatif: Viens, Le Temps Passe 22: No. 12. Final: Vous Voyez, J'espere 23: Venez, Venez, Peuple De Rome 24: Ah! Ah! Bravo! 25: Pantomime Du Roi Midas: Voici Maitre Arlequin 26: Ariette D'Arlequin: Regardons Bien Maitre Arlequin 27: Cavatine De Pierrot: Il Plait Fort 28: Soyez Surpris 29: Viens, Pas A Pas 30: Assassiner Un Capucin 31: Ah! Cher Canon/Maudit Canon Du Fort Saint-Ange 32: No. 13. Entracte & Scene 33: Ah! Qu'est-il Devenu? 34: No. 14. Priere: Rosa Purpurea 35: No. 15. Recit: Teresa! Ma Dague En Main 36: No. 16. Duo: Ah! Le Ciel, Cher Epoux 37: Quand Des Sommets 38: No. 17. Recit: Ah! Maitre! 39: No. 18. Quintette: Ah! Je Te Trouve Enfin 40: No. 19. Sextuor: Le Pape Ici! 41: Justice A Nous, Seigneur Et Maitre! 42: Dieu! Sur Ma Tete En Ce Moment 43: Ah! Ca Demon! 44: No. 20. Final: Ah! Maintenant De Sa Folle Impudence 45: No. 21. Entracte 46: No. 22. Air: Mais, Qu'ai-je Donc? 47: No. 23. Recit Et Air: Seul Pour Lutter 48: Sur Les Monts Les Plus Sauvages 49: No. 24. Choeur: Bienheureux Les Matelots 50: No. 25. Scene: Vite, Au Travail, Sans Plus Attendre! 51: Quel Contretemps! Vite, Allons, Ma Rapiere! 52: No. 26. Choeur: Peuple Ouvrier 53: No. 27. Scene Et Choeur: Ah! Ciel! Il Est Mort! 54: No. 28. Choeur: A L'atelier! 55: No. 29. Recitatif: Ah! Le Calme Renait 56: No. 30. Scene: Teresa! Teresa Ici! 57: No. 31. Final: Du Metal! Il Nous Faut Du Metal! 58: Seigneur, Use De Ton Pouvoir 59: Allons! Vivat! Faites-moi Place 60: Entre L'amour Et Le Devoir 61: Quand J'aurai Votre Age 62: Une Heure Encore 63: La Gloire Etait Ma Seule Idole

Editoral Review If I had to choose one of these two superb performances, it would be this: the opera's odd rhythms are more strongly underlined by Nelson, the whole work seems more lively, and the comic moments are genuinely funny. This recording presents--almost--Berlioz's original thoughts on this very complicated opera (which went through more than a dozen versions, with additions and subtractions, in the composer's lifetime), although conductor John Nelson also adds an aria or two Berlioz later added, making it somewhat different from the version recorded by Philips under Sir Colin Davis a little over 30 years ago. And the singing is superb, with Patrizia Ciofi a simply great, light-toned Teresa, Gregory Kunde tackling the title role and singing as impressively as Gedda did for Davis, and Joyce di Donato singing Ascanio's music as well as you'll ever hear it. The darker-voiced roles are equally well taken, with Laurent Naouri's Balducci particularly vivid. The orchestral playing, choral singing, and ensemble work and sonics are first rate. This is a superb recording, presenting Berlioz's odd masterwork brilliantly. --Robert Levine .. You can see a complete list of all Hector Berlioz, John Nelson, Orchestre National de France, Gregory Kunde, Patrizia Ciofi, Joyce DiDonato, Jean-Francois Lapointe, Laurent Naouri, Renaud Delaigue, Choeur de Radio France discography, or go back to the Hector Berlioz, John Nelson, Orchestre National de France, Gregory Kunde, Patrizia Ciofi, Joyce DiDonato, Jean-Francois Lapointe, Laurent Naouri, Renaud Delaigue, Choeur de Radio France tabs