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L’enfance du Christ

Sir Andrew Davis conducts Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ NOW and NCW in Berlioz's L'enfance du Christ, beginning a weekend-long celebration of the composer's music.

Live from Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff

Presented by Nicola Heywood Thomas

Beginning a weekend of commemorating the 150th anniversary of the death of Berlioz, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales open proceedings with a performance of Berlioz's monumental oratorio L'enfance du Christ, the first concert of a host of performances from all of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Orchestras and Choirs across the country. L'enfance du Christ marked a change for Berlioz, not necessarily in his writing but in the extremely favourable reception of the French public - which tended towards frosty. This reaction was probably due to the music, which Berlioz himself called 'naive and gentle', although he insisted that it was stylistically no different from any of his previous work. Although not himself a man of faith, the oratorio is steeped in his love of religious music, telling the story in three parts of the massacre of the innocents following the birth of Christ, the flight of Jesus, Mary and Joseph into Egypt, and finally their arrival and refuge in the town of Sais, all heard here without an interval.

Berlioz: L'enfance du Christ, Op 25

Sarah Connolly (Marie)
Andrew Staples (narrator)
Roderick Williams (Joseph)
Matthew Brook (Herod & Father)
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales
Sir Andrew Davis (conductor)

Part of the Radio 3 celebration
Berlioz - The Ultimate Romantic

2 hours, 28 minutes

Last on

Fri 15 Feb 2019 19:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Choral connections

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Music Played

  • Hector Berlioz

    L'enfance du Christ

    Orchestra: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.

  • Hector Berlioz

    (Berlioz) Symphonie fantastique: ii: Un bal, transcribed for piano

    Performer: Leslie Howard. Music Arranger: Franz Liszt.
    • Hyperion.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Amitie, reprends ton empire

    Performer: Cord Garben. Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Singer: Sir Thomas Allen. Singer: Françoise Pollet.
    • DG.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Le Maure jaloux

    Performer: Cord Garben. Singer: John Aler.

  • Franz Liszt

    Marche des pèlerins

    Performer: Leslie Howard.
    • Liszt: The complete music for solo piano - Volume 5: Leslie Howard.
    • Hyperion.
    • 10.

  • George Gershwin

    Piano Concerto (1st mvt)

    Performer: AndrΓ© Previn. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: AndrΓ© Previn.
    • EMI.

Broadcast

  • Fri 15 Feb 2019 19:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

Which Romantic composer are you?

Which Romantic composer are you?

A Valentine's quiz to mark Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3's celebration of Berlioz - the Ultimate Romantic.