Happy Strasbourg music lovers! Passionate about Berlioz, John Nelson continues with the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra a landmark integral. The Choir of the Opéra national du Rhin is associated with the Coro Gulbenkian in Romeo and Juliet with, as in the previous parts (The Trojans, The Damnation of Faust), a high-flying cast around Joyce DiDonato, with the timing complemented by the lyrical scene Cleopatra. This is a significant asset, the expressiveness of DiDonato being relayed by the very refined direction of John Nelson (superb “Meditation”!). The conductor shuns all thickening and vulgarity in Berlioz: the fluidity of the musical gesture is the great asset of his Romeo and Juliet, a work that benefits from not being directed too slowly and pompously. We prefer this cursive manner to that of Colin Davis, which is more solemn. The soloists, although it was high time for Maltman, are outstanding. Important, even decisive publication, despite some harshness in capturing the choirs.
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