Berlioz
“Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra… have established themselves as second to none in the French repertory. Add to that a largely French-speaking cast, plus two minor but valuable textual additions and the advantage… is clear. Throughout the opera Dutoit’s degree of rhythmic freedom, notably in heavily syncopated passages, intensifies the controlled frenzy behind much if the most dramatic writing, and here Dido’s hysteria, like Cassandra’s earlier on, is most tellingly conveyed. There is barely a weak link in the rest of the huge cast… the Montreal chorus matches the fire of Dutoit’s whole reading. This is a thrilling set to have one marvelling afresh at the electric vitality of Berlioz’s inspiration, and marvelling too that the formidable problems of recording so massive a work have been accomplished so confidently.” Gramophone Classical CD Guide