Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

In his intoxicating Symphonie fantastique, Berlioz depicts the waking world of dreams, nightmares and visions. With cinematic ability, Berlioz paints the wildest scenes, including a witches' Sabbath. Spanish star conductor Pablo Heras-Casado feels the sultry love affair perfectly. Together with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, he propels Berlioz's symphonic poem into new, mysterious atmospheres.

For the orchestra, it is quite an honor to work with Pablo Heras-Casado. Orchestras from all over the world eagerly knock on his door. Heras-Casado's versatile hunger for music is now legendary. He is equally at home in Baroque, Romantic and contemporary music. He started with Wagner's Ring cycle and interprets Bruckner's symphonies on authentic instruments. His take on Berlioz only makes one curious.

Of indomitable, pagan beauty is also the opening work, Mendelssohn's Die erste Walpurgisnacht. Chorus and orchestra sing of the dark rituals of mystical druids and their spiritual struggle with Christians. Together with the Groot Omroepkoor and a host of soloists, the orchestra presents this rarely heard live cantata.