Hector Berlioz01. - 10. Grande messe des morts, op.5 'Requiem' [89'20]
Robert Tear- tenor, London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn
11. - 15. Symphonie fantastique, op.14* [55'33]
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn
EMI Double-Forte 569512-2 (Recorded April 1980 and July & December 1976*; CD issued 1996; digital download 2009)
(digital download, FLACs, cover and inlay scans - no booklet)
Recording Walthamstow Town Hall, London and at Abbey Road London & Kingsway Hall, London*.
Recording engineer: Christopher Parker; Producers: Suvi Raj Grubb and Christopher Bishop*
This excellent twofer from EMI has appeared in a number of different guises, most recently as a Warner Music Gemini issue. As usual with EMI/Warner, this digital download came without any booklet. For a traditional view of the work, Previn's performance of the Requiem is probably second only to Colin Davis' earlier recording for Philips and has superior sound. The brass and percussion are particularly thrilling and the balance of instruments is nigh-on perfect. Robert Tear is fine in the tenor solo role and the choir is splendid.
Previn's earlier analog recording of Symphonie fantastique is equally fine and the curious decision to make the recording in two different venues isn't too obvious. Again, this is a traditional view of the work, without the cornet in Un bal, and may not please lovers of Roger Norrington or John Eliot Gardiner's recordings, but there is tremendous power in the last two movements.
Download from MEGA.