Berlioz - Symphonie Funebre et Triomphale from Paris

My esteemed colleague Squirrel inpired me to quickly transfer this old lp, which had been waiting around for a suitable disc mate for sometime. This, along with Squirrel's transfer of Scherchen's "Harold in Italy" will fill out a nice 79 minute cd for you!

Very much a period or event piece, the Symphonie funebre et triomphale is Berlioz at his somewhat excessive in orchestration effects and, probably least imaginative in actual writing. This huge symphony is certainly not on the musical level of Symphonie Fantastique, Harold in Italy or the master's operatic endeavors, but it does serve its purpose with merit and is great fun to have a listen to from time to time. Nonesuch released this during the American Bicentennial year so I cannot help wonder if it was a small contribution to the outpouring of martial and festive music at the time.

This Nonesuch recording of the work  is one of many that conductor Desire Dondeyne made of the work, going all the way back to the 1950's. The first recording of Funebre, on Urania, is advertised from Vienna  and conducted by one Ernst Graf however many have speculated that Graf is really Dondeyne in pseudonym. Whatever the case, the man had a long association with the work and his authority is indisputed. Incidentally, the version here is without chorus in the Apotheosis though Dondeyne did use the chorus on other occasions. The version here represents Berlioz's original scoring of the work.

Have some fun, crank it up! There are a few loud bass drum whacks that will peel the plaster off of the walls! Vive le France!

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