Orchestral Discipline Berlioz's 'Harold in Italy' - heard by STEPHEN FRANCIS VASTA '... sweet, plangent tone ...'

Gergiev serves up an ebullient Harold, full of bright orchestral colours. The bass strings bring a touch of Russian shagginess to their themes, at the very start and elsewhere, though elsewhere the sonorities are relatively conventional. Once past the slow introduction, the first movement goes with a no-nonsense impulse at a restrained tempo. A buoyant swing propels the Serenade; the vigour of the finale's turbulent opening carries it through to an exciting conclusion...

HECTOR BERLIOZ

VALERY GERGIEV

LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

VIOLA MUSIC

VOCAL MUSIC

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

BARBICAN CENTRE

LONDON

UNITED KINGDOM