Symphonie Fantastique w/cornet solo?

Cornetto · Veteran Member Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 216

I've been looking for a good recording of the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique that actually has the cornet obbligato in the second movement. Any recommendations?

popotrpt · Heavyweight Member Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 531

I always find it difficult to hear the cornet part. Maybe it's just not there. I heard the Seattle Symphony play it a couple months ago and the obbligato cornet part was left out, much to my disappointment. I had a London recording that I think had it. I don't want to hijack this thread but if ONE person knows why some have it and some don't I'm sure we'd all like to know. Unless you all do and I'm the only one.

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dambly · Veteran Member Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 111

I'd suggest the following (a classic, with the cornet solo included):

Concertgebouw Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis, cond.
Decca/reissued on a Penguin Classics CD
Recorded in 1974

Claes-Tilly · Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 12:12 am Post subject:

Hi!
Can´t help you with the recording but have some information that everybody probably already knows , but anyway. This obligato cornet part was actually written for J.B Arban. I think that´s pretty cool.
Greetings from Sweden Classe

johntpt · Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 3:23 am Post subject:

Some conductors don't like the solo, and some might feel that since the piece was originally written without the solo that it's more historically correct to leave it out. I really like the solo and have always been able to convince conductors to let me play it!

There are several recordings out there with the solo. Besides the Davis recording mentioned above, try Mehta conducting the NYPO on Decca from about 1980. This is probably my favorite recording of the piece, and Phil Smith sounds huge and wonderful on the solo. Abbado with Chicago on DG and Dohnanyi with Cleveland on Decca also include the solo. One of my favorites without the solo is Barenboim Berlin on Columbia.

There's also a great video on John Elliot Gardiner conducting a period instrument group that features the cornet solo played on some 2 valve cornet, but I don't think they've released that one on DVD (yet)!

JU

Cornetto · Veteran Member Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 216

Thanks for the responses; I'll definitely look for these recordings.

popotrpt, your ears aren't deceiving you. More often than not, performances of this piece leave out the cornet part, as it was added several years after its premiere. I've actually heard it live with the cornet solo a couple of times, and trust me, you'll notice if it's being played!

The problem I've had is that they never seem to name a cornet soloist on the album cover, meaning that you can't tell in advance whether a recording has the solo or not. You just have to buy it and find out; this is the main reason why I own so many recordings of the Symphonie Fantastique...

johntpt · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 3:03 pm Post subject:

In case anyone is interested, I just spotted a copy of the Mehta CD on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=307&item=4729483338&rd=1

This is rather hard to find. I don't know the seller, but I thought someone might like to pick this one up!!

JU

georgevgoad · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 12:58 pm Post subject:

Here's the recording on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq5VQ2qCAsE

mr_luuksky · New Member Joined: 17 Sep 2016 Posts: 6

This recording includes the cornet solo. Second movement starts at 15'35":

https://www.nporadio4.nl/concerten/3438-omroeparchief-koninklijk-concertgebouworkest-en-glenda-maurice-o-l-v-bernard-haitink

Klaas Kos is playing the cornet solo.