Audition: Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Pierre Monteux

Decca Recording, October 1958

This is a bit of a curates egg. Monteux is dramatic and drives the work through to a magnificent climax not missing the details or skimping on Berlioz’s extreme dynamics.

The orchestra is alert to a point and the sound is very good aside from one recurring annoyance. On headphones I can hear traffic noise too often. I suspect this is a downside of such good acoustics and microphones.

My other reservation is the very intrusive placement and tone of the oboes snd especially the cor anglais which would sour all the milk in the dairy. I know it’s part of the Vienna sound but it is hard to endure.

perf 7/10 (depending on your tolerance of CA)

Rec 7/10

Interpretation 10/10