Berlioz : Symphonie Fantastique (Fantastical Symphony) 

Thank you Internet Historian for showing me this piece

Berlioz wrote for a massive orchestra, and Radio France brought extra musicians in to perform this wonderful piece. Huge bass section, percussion for instance. Thousands of hours practicing when young, these musicians showed their talent as adults. They brought Berlioz back to life. It's a shame that Berlioz is not featured in concerts more, he had a lot to do with making the orchestra what it is today. This performance was A+, outstanding.

I spent 60 years singing professionally in the Los Angeles studios. I regret not playing an instrument to the point where I could have been part of an orchestra. Watching this beautiful rendition you can just feel the love and respect these people have for the music, for each other, and for the conductor. Thank you for this amazing post. PS I love it when a conductor doesn’t use a score. RESPECT

I have listened to this piece for over fifty years, this has to be one of the best interpretations in that time.

La meilleure interprétation de la Symphonie fantastique de Berlioz. Merci à l'orchestre philharmonique de Radio France. Merci à Maître Myung-Whun Chung.

Its April 2024.No matter how many times I listen to this, I never get tired of it...

What an irony. A piece of Berlioz is played in a room named 'Pleyel'. Berlioz loved a woman who later fell inlove with Pleyel. It is said that Berlioz galloped furiously to kill Pleyel but in the middle of the road, he finally dropped that thought.

Myung-whun Chung is undoubtedly one of the best conductors for this piece, after the era of Bernstein and (young) Muti.

Quand le monde fléchit autour de soi, quand les structures d’une civilisation vacillent, il est bon de revenir à ce qui, dans l’histoire, ne fléchit pas, mais au contraire redresse le courage, rassemble les séparés, pacifie sans meurtrir. Il est bon de rappeler que le génie de la création est lui aussi à l’œuvre dans une histoire vouée à la destruction 🐾

Berlioz presented the Fantastic Symphony for the first time in 1828, having been received by Liszt and by the most outstanding musicians of the time, with great enthusiasm for having recognized in this exuberant work and perfect musical expression strongly marked by the romantic style. In fact, this symphony unsurpassed musical sensibility written by a musical genius that involves us and makes us vibrate deeply. The orchestral interpretation and direction are magnificent, taking our musical emotion to levels never felt before. Thanks for this remarkable recording, which in my opinion is one of the best Interpretations I have ever heard. Viva Berlioz and his unparalleled and sublime music.

Plus je la réécoute et plus je trouve que décidément c'est un exceptionnel concert.... de toux ! 😢 À l'égal (hélas trois fois hélas) de cet enregistrement concert, pour une interprétation magistrale qui restera dans les annales de la Fantastique au XXe siècle.

Idaho Falls symphony is performing this tonight 2024. I'm so grateful to be here listening to this!!! Everyone is dressed up and the money is going towards the cause of mental health. I love classical music. So glad it's still being performed!!!!

Amazing that this work had its premiere only five years after Beethoven’s 9th. What an imagination! I think of Berlioz as the Led Zeppelin of his day. The “Tuba Mirum” of his Requiem is the loudest classical music I’ve ever heard.

Que dirais-je devant tant de beauté ? " Fantastique " sans doute ! Merci à tous ces musiciens magnifiques , merci à Maître Myung-Whun Chung , et merci à la production de France Musique qui a merveilleusement filmé ce concert pour notre plus grand plaisir !

A classical music channel says that this piece was rejected at once until it was performed .... Pure genius revealed.

Merci pour ce beau partage. Que de Bonheur. Merci à l'orchestre philharmonique de Berlioz. Merci à Maître, Myung-W.Chung. Merci a RU-vid pour le partage. Je Vous souhaite une excellente soirée. Cordit.G ❤❤❤❤👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️

I love the use of the bells in the final movement . I have not heard of this conductor before but very impressed he leads 'by ear' THAT is superb Sir!!

I love how softly the orchestra is able to play the music at the beginning, it really adds this nice soft, and suttle affect.

That might be the greatest performance of Symphony Fantastique, I've EVER HEARD!!!

Quelle combinaison : un chef d'oeuvre, un grand orchestre et un grand chef d'orchestre !

That might be the greatest performance of Symphony Fantastique, I've EVER HEARD!!!. A beautifully controlled performance by Myung-Whun Chung of the Berlioz masterpiece..

54:11 Look at that man on the far left side of the screen, how much he's enjoying the moment!

What a find! This is so beautifully shaped and must have made for lively rehearsals judging from the sheer engagement and enjoyment shown by the musicians. Chung is well known for his ability to get the best of ensemble playing and it really pays off with each movement being a separate 'dream'. But above all this has a truly French orchestral sound which I feared had gone extinct. Best I have heard on modern instruments.

Une des symphonies les plus marquantes du répertoire romantique… Le compositeur français est parvenu à trouver sa place parmi les grands artistes allemands et italiens de son époque. Grand hommage à Hector Berlioz et Franz Liszt pour leur initiative à la légendaire musique à programme.

Possibly the best performance of this very complex symphony I have heard. Berlioz' music is enigmatic at all times, but I think this work takes the cake. Well directed and played. thank you.

There is something so sublime, so moving, so indescribable in this interpretation: the musicians, and the conductor are so immersed in the spirit of the composer

Merci bien pour la symphonie ! C'est vraiment une interprétation magique. Bravo.

Berlioz is a great Alchemist of the symphony, and the greatness of his masterpiece is off the charts and far superior

I like this conductor. Pure focus. Zero pretentiousness.

Kind of remarkable that this came only a couple of decades after Haydn's final symphonies--what a sea change.

Taken to ecstasy. Exquisite performance. Much love and gratitude.

New Sub from Kenya 🇰🇪 Beautiful Music

My first and still favorite simphonie. Great music, great perfomance, thank you!!

Absolutely divine ,fantastique. The orchestra plays as if beìng under a magic spell of this incredible conductor Maestro Myung-Whun Chung . BRAVO ! !!

Die beste Aufführung dieses Werkes, die ich jemals gehört (und gesehen) habe.

La música eleva nuestros espíritus, escuchar esta magnífica interpretación pacífica el espíritu. Gracias

I love this conductor! What a boss!

MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE !!!THE 4th. MOVEMENT. ( THE MARCH. TO. THE. GALLOWS. ) ,. WAS. ONE. OF. THE. GREATEST RENDERINGS. I. HAVE. HEARD. SINCE. SOLTI. AND. THE. IMMORTAL. CHICAGO. BRASS. SECTION !!! THIS. IS. THE. BEST. PERFORMANCE. OF. The. Symphony Fantastic. That I Have Heard. So. Far. In. This Century !! THE GREAT 4th MOVEMENT, "THE MARCH TO THE GALLOWS" IS ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRED AND MAGNIFICENTLY ORCESTRATED COMPOSITIONS IN THE HISTORY OF MUSIC !!!...

This is one of the better performances of this piece I have heard so far. Amazing. Thank you!

Magnifique ! Quand on pense qu'il a composé cette symphonie à 28 ans... et tout ça pour "pêcho sa meuf" comme diraient les jeunes ! 😂

Myung-whun Chung has so much passion, and expression. I loved it. Beautifully done

This Symphony lives up to its title: Fantastic.

I listened to this piece for the first time tonight and fell in love immediately. Absolutely beautiful and I love it so much all the wonderful images that came across my mind while listening to this.

00:35 1st movement: Rêveries - Passions. Largo - Allegro agitato e appassionato assai - Religiosamente 15:08 2nd movement: Un bal (A Ball) . Valse. Allegro non troppo 22:09 3rd movement: Scène aux champs. Adagio 39:53 4th movement: Marche au supplice. Allegretto non troppo 44:24 5th movement: Songe d’une nuit de sabbat. Larghetto - Allegro

One of my most favorite piece in my lifetime. And this is also one of best interpretation.

A beautifully controlled performance by Myung-Whun Chung of the Berlioz masterpiece.

Dies Irae made me cry...

The first movement is so awesome 😮 ❤

Fantastique !

Non seulement ça n'a pas vieilli d'une note, mais si on oublie tout ce qui s''est fait depuis, jusqu'à maintenant, on s'imagine entendre soudain ça avec les oreilles de gens qui venaient à peine de digérer (mal) Beethoven. C'était extraordinaire, ça l'est encore. Et merci pour cette belle interprétation où chaque instrument ou groupe se détache particulièrement. C'est pour moi une version idéale, magique, qui vit.

This guy's song is almost an Hour long?? That's insane!!!

Best of the bestest performances in all coceivable parameter. Thank you.

An incredible performance of one of my favorite pieces.

Dans cette oeuvre Berlioz s'inspire de son amour pour une commedienne. Cet amour impossible va le hanter pendant 5 années de sa vie et il transcrira ses emotions dans cette oeuvre.

Opera fantastica: non composta al pianoforte, come erano soliti fare i compositori del tempo, risulta nuova, con sonorità sconosciute , tanto che lo stesso Schumann, che pure giudicava positivamente questa sinfonia, confessava di non capirne il "senso" . troppo avanti per i suoi tempi , col tema ricorrente ( idée fixe , confuse spesso con il leit-motiv ) , con sonorità mai ascoltate, in 5 movimenti, invece dei quattro tradizionali , con una struttura da "poema sinfonico", apriva la strada ai musicisti successivi. Nella " Scène aux schamps" " si ascoltano , addirittura sonorità che saranno proprie di Debussy. Bellissima esecuzione e grande direzione del Maestro Myung-Whun Chung.

The bela bartok of this version is excellent and unique among all I've ever heard 😂❤❤❤❤❤

Le chef à bien travaillé avec son orchestre. Le matériau sonore est riche , possède la brillance , le flux est mené avec toute l'élégance et la ténacitée qui sied à la partition. L'accent sur les silences et les extinctions sont des points de repères pour les comparaisons (Munch. ..) GRAND

Il faut que je voie cet orchestre en concert - c'est décidé !

Oh my Lord! What a stinkin good performance!

The first human made music that got played on the far side of the moon. Simply luminous.

Beautiful. I always enjoy the music more when I watch the instruments being played. 🐨🇦🇺

I feel like I am around in a fantastic labyrinth to spread infinitely when I listen to this masterpiece

This will quench and moisturize your parched soul

Chef fantastique, un grand orchestre, un régal .....

the song really shows how sad berlioz was

I was listening to this while doing home work and I had a mini aneurism every time someone coughed, sneezed, or grunted. Like bruh you're listening to some of the most beautiful music in the world performed by incredibly skilled musicians. Hold your cough.

Fantastic. Berlioz. Bravo do Brazil

Best interpretation I have ever heard.

Sehr einfühlsam. Diese Aufführung ist ein wirklicher Ohrenschmaus!

I don't care what anyone says, music, as well as western sofistication and culture, peaked centuries ago. I cry because I cannot look at the current state of France and see anything resembling the grace, virility and honor of its ancestors. I wish I was born in the past, when people were proud of their kin, of their God and filled with hope and a desire for virtue

This is awefully, 🎀🌹🌲⛩️🎍🍂🎏💐🎑🎎🎴🇯🇵

I listened all day everyday for decades. Finally paying off being in time w/this.

Stunning performance! Very good horn playing

Stellar performance of PRF, led by Maesto Chung. And what a magical rendition of Berlioz materpiece. Thank you for sharing ✨️ 👏

Hello! Listening this for the first time!

Knowing the meaning of this makes it 10x better

beautiful emotional roller coaster .up and down .the ovation was well given

Brillante und zugleich lyrische Aufführung dieser fantastischen Sinfonie mit klaren und sauberen Töne aller Instrumente. Der zweite Satz klingt besonders faszinierend und der vierte Satz echt spannend. Der intelligente Maestro dirigiert das ausgezeichnete Orchester im gut phrasierten Tempo mit effektiv kontrollierter Dynamik. Einfach wunderschön!

Stunning performance. Clarity of delivery best ever, and the Conductor was unique, to say the least. Appreciative audience.

Absolutely phenomenal. It took a couple listens but this is absolutely fantastic!

Man that trombone sure kicks you in the chest during the marche au suplice

Magistrale interprétation musicale par tous ces musiciens et leur chef d'orchestre. Un très beau morceau de la musique classique.

¡EXCELENTE!

Écouter, écouter, symphonie tellement magnifique ❤️

Brilliantly. Great Conductor. Great orchestra. Bravissimo! 💙✨🎶👏👏👏

A Fantasztikus szimfónia premierje 1830-ban volt, a romantika, a hernani csata évében. Az első „programzene”, amely szétzúzza a szimfónia szigorúan klasszikus kereteit, kora előtti remekmű, sok romantikus zeneszerzőre, Lisztre, Wagnerre és Mahlerre hatva. Harriet Smithson színésznő iránti szeretetének önéletrajzi és fantáziadús elbeszélése a mű egy „rögzített gondolat” körül forog, amely megszállottan ismétlődik a különböző mozgalmakban. Lassú és bizonytalan Bevezetés után a rögzített gondolat megfogalmazódik, majd az első Allegro mozgalomban kifejlesztésre kerül. Könnyű és híres keringő szól a második „Un bal” tételben, amely eszeveszett kodával zárul. Az Adagio de la Scène aux bajnokság egy oboe / angol kürt duettel kezdődik, amely vidéki tájat állít fel, mielőtt Beethovenre emlékeztető variációk sora kezdődne. A rövid életű Halálig haladás egy rém látvány, melyben a hős azt képzeli, hogy megölte kedvesét. Az utolsó tétel, az Álom a szombat éjszakájáról kétségtelenül a zenei újításokban a legmesszebbmenő, kétségkívül a legfélelmetesebb rész Dies Irae bejelentése két, az ürességben csengő haranggal.

El título lo dice todo, fantástica!!!. También los músicos y el director!!. Excelente 👌

Absolutely a tremendous and marvelous performance!

L'orchestration est magnifique. J'apprecie particuliairement la mise en valeur des musiciens par la réalisation. Chapeau.

Wonderful! Many compliments and thanks a lot for share It! 🎼❤️

I love the face of the timpani player at 53:46, he is so happy to play :)

Ah! Notre chère vraie Salle Pleyel ! Super accessible depuis quasiment toute IDF en transports ou voitures ... Super acoustique singulière, dont l'arrière scène. .. Que de regrets... Idem pour le philar et ce chef. .. Que de super souvenirs y avec compris avec l'orchestre du Venezuela et Duhdamel Super quartier

I have been searching for a good interpretation of this Fantastique Symphonie for a long time. You have been the chosen one.

It seems I am wandering in the labyrinth of Berlioz’s musical aesthetics to spread infinity 🎏🎏🎏🎏🎏 ,🎋🎋🎋🎋🎋 🎎🎎🎎🎎🎎

Inoubliale symphonie Merci Berlioz et a la Radio France

A flawless performance. Amazing.

Great interpretation of one of the greatest masterpieces ever 💚

Musique interpréter de façon fantastique comme son nom l'indique ! ❤

This Symphony is the testament of the greatest simp-like behavior in history As a symphony 4.5/5 cheeses 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀 The proficiency of the people playing it 5/5 cheeses 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀 The story behind the composition of this symphony 0/100 cheeses 😤😤😤

vraiment remarquable pour la précision et la clarté du son, bravo