Michael Tilson Thomas’ Symphonie fantastique remains the finest version to appear in recent memory, and its reissue at mid-price should induce any who hesitated the first time around to wait no longer. This performance has everything: superb playing, excellent pacing in the problematic slow movement, plenty of power in the March and Witches’ Sabbath, and an unusual degree of truly French elegance. Through it all Thomas shapes the music with intelligence and a keen ear for color and detail that never compromises the necessary spontaneity or suppresses the music’s wildness. The two Lélio extracts (Chorus of Shadows and the “Tempest” Fantasy) are equally well done and bring the playing time to more than 75 minutes, making this very well recorded disc an excellent value. Even in a crowded field, this 1997 recording easily withstands comparison to any of the great versions of the past (Munch, Markevitch, Bernstein), and it sounds better than any of them. If you haven’t heard this disc, then you’re missing something special. [8/6/2004]
