Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique; recommendations....

The new SACD Hybrid release on Telarc with Jarvi conducting the Cincinnati is surprisingly good. It is recorded extremely well and the performance is top notch.

For another suggestion, you might also want to get the RCA Living Stereo release of Charles Munch conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Sir Thomas Beecham and Jean Martinon performance versions are my recommendations.

Sir Thomas Beecham and the ORTF performed the Sym. Fantastique with a melancholy and relayed the dream like state of this work very well. The sound is more than acceptable, but do not expect audio demonstration quality.
http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=2787828

Jean Martinon also performed the same piece with the ORTF and delivered an equally stunning performance.
http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1767831

The links are included for your reference, but I do NOT endorse Tower Records.

Aaron

I have many recommendable versions on LP, but on the CD, from my own personal listenting, I can recommend the Symphonie Fantastique version LONDON G2-36839 with the Chicago Symphony, Sir Georg Solti, conducting. It is a live recording from the 1992 Saltzburg Whisun Concert, Grosses Festspielhaus. I just listened to it and I can recommend it from both the interpretation as well as the sonics. It also includes Franz Lizt's Les Prelude in what is a sonic blockbuster. However, I looked for it at Amazon and Tower and see that it is out of stock. I suggest you try good sources for used CD's. An Audiogoner has recommended a version on Telarc, and I have an LP of that version and it is a good one.

I like Charles Dutoit with the Montreal Symphony.

I have many versions on CD (7) and have heard many more. The best place to start is the Davis/Phillips 50 Greatest which was with Concertgebouw Orch., long standing for many years as one of best performances this version is special remaster that improves sound noticeably.........but for some unknown reason is now hard to find and they are back to selling standard Davis/Phillips version. I got mine 1-2 yrs ago, don't fall for all the hype about the new Davis LSO live CD, it is nowhere near as good.

NCARV........Many will not even try the Dutoit/London version, but that would be a big mistake since this is easily one of the best versions available, and has the best sound quality of any version I have heard! The performance is suprisingly robust and energetic when called for, great choice that is often overlooked.

For budget price the new Talmi/Naxos is very good although not one of the top three choices it is better than many of the big name versions and has very good sound.

Two used versions are worth seeking at Amazon since they are currently out of catalog:
Paray/Mercury
Markevitch/DG Originals
Both are excellent performances with lots of atmosphere and excitement, the problem is both are brightly lit recordings especially the Paray.....but still should be owned because the performances stand the test of time.