Berlioz has offered a wide range of works to the classical music canon, from symphonies to operas. Here, we pick some of the best Berlioz music to add to your collection.
The best Berlioz music of all time
Les Troyens
Berlioz’s greatest, most grandiose opera is full of drama, weird and wonderful orchestrations and vocal magic.
Recommended recording: Ben Heppner, Michelle DeYoung, Petra Lang, Sara Mingardo, Peter Mattei, Stephen Milling, Kenneth Tarver, LSO & Chorus/Colin Davis LSO Live LSO0010
Symphonie fantastique
Music’s first great tone poem is an advanced work, considering it was written only three years after Beethoven’s death.
Recommended recording: London Classical Players/Roger Norrington Virgin 628 5792
Grande Messe des morts
Berlioz wasn’t much of a believer, but this 80-minute belter certainly God-fearing – 16 timpani, four antiphonal brass bands, more than 100 strings and 100 voices.
Recommended recording: Peter Schreier, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch DG 477 7561
Nuits d’été
This attractive song cycle, setting the poetry of Gautier, originally written for baritone or mezzo and piano, has since been rearranged for soprano and orchestra.
Recommended recording: Régine Crespin (soprano), L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ernest Ansermet Decca 475 712
La damnation de Faust
Setting Goethe’s poem Faust, this large-scale oratorio is written for orchestra,solo voices and chorus.
Recommended recording: Janet Baker, Nicolai Gedda, Paris Opéra Chorus, Orchestre de Paris & LSO/Prêtre & Gibson EMI 381 4932
