London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis - Berlioz: Harold en Italie (2003)

Colin Davis is arguably the finest Berlioz conductor in the world; both of his recordings of Les Troyens are magnificent and elsewhere he's rarely bettered. His winning streak continues with this live performance with the LSO of Harold in Italy and the ballet music from Troyens. Tabea Zimmermann's solo viola is as grand, brilliantly flavorful, and picturesque as the LSO's playing; and the entire performance swift and rhythmically propulsive is simply fantastic. The introspective moments--listen to the way the air positively shimmers at the "canto religioso" are as effective as the big moments, and the huge finale is truly wild without ever lapsing into anarchy. This is controlled but lusty playing helped by the crisp recording even the brass, playing with abandon, doesn't drown out the highest strings or piccolo. The Troyens music should probably have been a curtain raiser rather than an encore, but it's handsomely played and a nice, exotic touch. If you'd like, you can throw out your other recordings of Harold--this one is all you need. -- Robert Levine