CALENDAR
DONATE
FR

Berlioz – Le carnaval romain et Symphonie fantastique

Discography
Buy

“After three albums devoted to late Romanticism and the great Austro-German composers, I am delighted to return to the French repertoire, where the OSM has excelled for decades. Part of the OSM’s repertoire since 1937, the Symphonie fantastique beautifully embodies the orchestra’s deep connection to French music. Beyond the narrative elements, it is the striking orchestral colors that have left a lasting impression on me. Thanks to the virtuosity of the musicians, we were able to offer a fresh interpretation that remains faithful to tradition, enhanced by the exceptional acoustics of the Maison symphonique.”
Rafael Payare, OSM Music Director 

Voices from the press

« Bref, ce disque est à classer au chapitre des excellentes réalisations, avec des couleurs plus logiques, soignées et intéressantes que dans le récent enregistrement de Mäkelä et l’Orchestre de Paris. »
- Christophe Huss, Le Devoir

« Fraîcheur, vivacité et nuances sont d’autres qualités qu’on peut accoler à ce superbe travail de l’OSM et de son chef. Le quatrième mouvement de la Symphonique fantastique est particulièrement réjouissant, plein de vigueur et d’intensité, mais sans jamais tomber dans l’excès de décibels. Ce nouvel album, le 138e de l’OSM est en droite ligne avant la grande majorité de la discothèque de l’Orchestre: un bien bel objet. »
- Martin Prévost, Pieuvre

« The defining feature of these performances is elegance – a Gallic elegance. Rafael Payare and his Montreal Symphony rein in the splashier aspects of Berlioz’s Roman Carnival in favour of something which wholeheartedly basks in its sun-drenched lyricism. [...] Lots to admire then. I am increasingly intrigued and admiring of Payare. »
- Edward Seckerson, Gramophone

« A new recording from Rafael Payare and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is always worth waiting for, and this colourful album of Berlioz doesn't disappoint - all the neuroticism and hallucinatory nightmares of the ever-popular Symphonie fantastique, preceded by the equally vivid spectacle of the Carnaval Romain. »
- David Smith, Prestomusic

« After its gentle start, the overture is given a full-blooded rendering, acting as an ideal appetiser for the mastework to follow. After many years of defaulting to classic but decidedly venerable versions by such as Munch, Ormandy and Bernstein, it is a pleasure to be able to recommend so wholeheartedly a modern, digital account. »
- Ralph Moore, MusicWeb International

ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTRÉAL 
MUSIC DIRECTOR RAFAEL PAYARE 

Recorded in December 2024 at Montreal’s Maison symphonique, it builds on the Orchestra’s rich legacy of recordings. 

With this recording, Payare and the OSM celebrate Berlioz’s inventiveness through two signature works: the Symphonie fantastique, which revolutionized the symphonic form with its bold narrative quality, and Le carnaval romain, which exalts the orchestral brilliance of French Romanticism. The OSM recently performed both works in some of Europe’s most prestigious venues during its November 2024 tour. Now, audiences everywhere will have the chance to hear the Orchestra’s interpretations—performances that enthralled critics only a short time ago. 

This new album also has a very special dimension. The Symphonie fantastique features the first recording of the bells acquired by the OSM in the summer of 2024. Two bells from a set of ten are heard on this recording. These bells broaden the orchestra’s sound palette and bring an incomparable brilliance, enriching Berlioz’s original vision. Set for release on October 17, this album will be the OSM’s 138th. 

A RETURN TO THE OSM’S DNA

Following three acclaimed releases on PENTATONE—Mahler’s Fifth Symphony (2023), Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder paired with Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben (2024), and Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht and Pelleas und Melisande (2024)—all jewels of the late Romantic repertoire, Rafael Payare and the OSM now return to the Orchestra’s very DNA, reconnecting with a lineage of legendary recordings that began in the 1980s.

While the OSM’s 1985 recording of the Symphonie fantastique brought the Orchestra international renown, this present-day interpretation draws fresh inspiration from a reinvigorated and vibrant orchestra that breathes new life into the iconic work, infusing it with novel colours and renewed impetus.

This flagship piece is paired with Le carnaval romain, the first work conducted by Payare upon his appointment in January 2021 as music director of the OSM. The meaningful choice of repertoire reflects an intuitive musical affinity with the Symphonie fantastique, which here also takes on a personal and sentimental dimension for the conductor.

acheter l'album

Discover also

View the list
Discography

Pelleas Und Melisande and Verklärte Nacht by Schoenberg

Discography

Strauss, Ein Heldenleben – Mahler, Rückert-Lieder

ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTRÉAL RAFAEL PAYARE – SONYA YONCHEVA   RECORDED AT THE MAISON SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTRÉAL IN MARCH 2023 ALBUM RELEASED ON MARCH 15 With this recording, Rafael Payare and the OSM pursue their progress through the late Romantic German repertoire, a focal point of their concerts in Montreal and abroad as well as their recordings for Pentatone. At first blush, these works may not seem to form an obvious pairing. This is Strauss at his most exuberant, with an immense and richly coloured musical canvas, and Mahler at his most introspective, choosing the intimacy and inwardness of Friedrich Rückert’s poems, creating an array of different atmospheres through his bare yet varied orchestration. Nevertheless, in their eminently personal and autobiographical approach, both composers offer us their careful reflection on existence and on their place in the world. “It has been a fascinating experience to explore this repertoire with the OSM. Reconnecting with Mahler while immersing ourselves in the sound world of Strauss marks an important milestone in our musical trajectory together and continues our shared journey through the German and Austrian repertoire. It is also our first collaboration with Sonya Yoncheva, whose extraordinary voice is blessed with an endless palette of expressive nuances and colours. We are very pleased to share with you the poetic and musical world of these two towering composers.” — Rafael Payare, Music Director of the OSM

Discography

Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp Minor

ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE MONTRÉAL RAFAEL PAYARE Recorded in August 2022, this album marks the beginning of a multi-year collaboration between Pentatone and the OSM. The Orchestra continues its rich recording tradition, begun in 1980, with what is now its 132nd album. A work by a composer close to Maestro Payare’s heart, Gustav Mahler’s Fifth Symphony is deeply personal, written in the prime of the composer’s life. The extremes in the music—from the darkness of the funeral march to the ecstatic joy of the finale—faithfully reflect the highs and lows of his own life at the time of composition: from surviving a near-death experience to marrying his beloved Alma and being appointed Director of the Vienna Court Orchestra. “I could not be happier to be immersed in Mahler’s score with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Their technical finesse and their tonal colour, range and depth bring to life the vast musical canvas that the composer created. We invite you to experience Mahler’s rich and profoundly moving music with us.” — Rafael Payare, Music Director of the OSM