Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique - SCO & Ticciati - Limelight Magazine

Fresh-faced conductor delivers a truly "fantastique" symphony Berlioz's masterpiece changed the face of classical music but seldom has that been so compellingly illuminated than in this new Scottish CO recording under dynamic young principal Robin Ticciati. With a smaller orchestra than usual Linn Records excellent SACD maintains a natural balance lean strings to the fore pungent woodwind centrally located brass and percussion well defined towards the back revealing Berlioz's extraordinary orchestral colours in all their originality.

Never has Reveries sounded so romantic and yearning all drooping phrases and delicate gestures. A dramatic moment can turn on a hair with a punchy sforzando or a shapely diminuendo, yet one instrument never over does another. Un Bed is swift and unsentimental with shortened phrases and reduced vibrato nodding towards period practice. The Scène aux Champs, with its exquisite wind solos is hypnotic and doesn't seem overlong. In an almost perky Marche au Supplice, Ticciati allows menacing percussion to fill out the SCO's lighter orchestral body. Finally the Songe d'Une Nuit du Sabbat is frightfully grim and ghastly with squealing woodwind and skeletal rattling of strings. The hairs genuinely stood on end. Other performances may offer larger force but if you've ever wanted to hear what Berlioz wrote in all it's revolutionary glory then this thrilling recording is the one to listen to. Highly recommended.