Decca Eloquence continues its exploration of the recordings of Pierre Monteux with a coupling of two works that invoke the supernatural. Monteux’s brilliant, yet cultivated late-1950s readings of these works offer much pleasure and both are released internationally on Decca CD for the first time.
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Ein Sommernachtstraum (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Wiener Philharmoniker
Pierre Monteux
Recording Producers: John Culshaw (Berlioz); Erik Smith (Mendelssohn)
Recording Engineer: James Brown
Recording Location: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria, 20–24 October 1958 (Berlioz), 25–28 November 1957 (Mendelssohn)
Mastering Engineer: Chris Bernauer
‘a lyrical interpretation … beautifully done … excellently recorded’ (Berlioz) Gramophone, November 1960
‘enchanting … attractive … the conducting and the Vienna Philharmonic’s playing are a continual delight. Monteux gets the utmost delicacy in the ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ music and misses not a single deft touch in the orchestration.’ (Mendelssohn) Gramophone