Symphonie Fantastique / Beatrice et Benedict overture

"Berlioz's scoring comes across with remarkable clarity, its textures translucent, its individual timbres well characterised, its mixes subtly variegated. The SCO also has the capability of full, rounded sonorities and explosive thrills when the occasion demands...Ticciati draws on these elements with both discretion and vitality, placing them within a thoughtfully chosen spectrum of colour and within an interpretation that is conceived cohesively"
(Daily Telegraph)

"Few previous recordings of the Symphonie Fantastique will have used such a modest string section, but the transparency and lightness of touch Ticciati achieves is a real bonus...The overture to the opera Beatrice and Benedict, full of wonderful string interplay and characterful woodwind, makes a charming fill-up."
(The Guardian)

"this Fantastique is remarkable for its fresh insights...The opening Rêveries - Passions is especially dreamlike, impressionistic almost...while the nightmarish sounds of the Witches' Sabbath emerge in the most vivid colours thanks to the clarity of the string sound and the squealing high woodwinds...Fantastique!"
(Sunday Times)

"The clarity, coordination and spectrum of colour in the orchestra are spot-on for Berlioz. The ear can thus readily appreciate the individuality of Berlioz's scoring. This is altogether a performance that has been thought through as an organic entity, a broad, vivid tableau in which images are sharply focused." Gramophone Magazine, May 2012

The multi-award winning Scottish Chamber Orchestra marks its debut recording under the direction of Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati with the majestic Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz.

Named one of the top ten young 'conductors on the verge of greatness' by Gramophone Magazine, Robin is the perfect conductor to bring out the deep colours and emotions of this composition while balancing the orchestra and keeping the pace to create an impressive and dynamic sound throughout.

With this recording Robin aimed to offer audiences 'a thought-provoking and new way of listening to the piece.'

Symphonie Fantastique continues to be one of the most popular early Romantic compositions with today's audiences.

Robin Ticciati took up the position of Principal Conductor with the SCO from the 2009/10 season and opened the 2011/12 season with a blistering Berlioz programme hailed by the critics as 'compelling'.

Since then his profile has continued to build; in 2011 he was voted one of 'Tomorrow's Icons' by Gramophone and was announced as the next music director of Glyndebourne, taking over from Vladimir Jurowski in 2014.

'Symphonie Fantastique' is the first in a series of Berlioz recordings undertaken by the SCO and Ticciati: a recording of Nuits d'été and the Death of Cleopatra are planned for 2012.)

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is internationally recognised as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world.

The Orchestra has a large international fan base following recent performances in Spain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, the USA, Portugal and the Netherlands.