Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Lelio, Muti/Depardieu

“The vivid, evocative and beautifully detailed performance [Muti] elicited from his platoons of performers — including narrator, soloists and full Chorus, in magnificent voice — drew a thunderous ovation from the packed auditorium.” — Chicago Tribune

“. . . to hear this pairing of works as Berlioz intended was fascinating.” — The New York Times

Recorded in 2010 during Riccardo Muti’s first subscription concerts as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’ tenth music director, this double-CD pairs Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique with its sequel, Lélio ou Le retour à la vie (Lelio, or The Return to Life). Berlioz intended Symphonie fantastique to be followed by Lelio in concert, as the artist, subject of the original work, returns to life to comment anew on music and art. Maestro Muti and the CSO are joined in Lélio by acclaimed actor Gerard Depardieu as narrator, tenor Mario Zeffiri, bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen and the Chicago Symphony Chorus.

Berlioz Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
2010, Orchestra Hall, Chicago

Berlioz Lélio ou Le retour à la vie (Lelio, or The Return to Life)
Gérard Depardieu narrator
Mario Zeffiri tenor
Kyle Ketelsen bass-baritone
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Duain Wolfe director
2010, Orchestra Hall, Chicago

Discs: 2
Record Label: CSO Resound
Release Date: September 18, 2015