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BERLIOZ: BENVENUTO CELLINI Soloists: Gregory Kunde, Patrizia Ciofi, Joyce De Donato, Jean-Francois LaPointe, Laurent Naouri, Renaud Delaigue. Choeur de Radio France. Orchestre National de France. Conductor: John Nelson Virgin Classics 7243 5 45706 2 9 *****

Despite a disastrous premiere in 1838, Berlioz himself said of Benvenuto Cellini that "it contains a variety of ideas, an energy and exuberance and a brilliance of colour such as I may perhaps never find again, and which deserved a better fate". Loosely based on the famous autobiography, the romantic score is full of vitality and contains some of the composer's most thrilling music. It failed at its premiere because of a clumsy libretto (particularly in the second act) and probably because the public was just not ready for its originality. Revisions to the libretto have not been successful, and this – along with its size and scale – have prevented it from reaching the main repertoire. On this recording, the score is given in its original form, resulting in a fine performance of an exuberant masterpiece. www.virginclassics.com

Colman Morrissey