Berlioz's most popular and most virtuosic overture is actually an independent concert piece, but it has close ties to an opera. After the premiere of his opera Benvenuto Cellini, based on the autobiography of the famous Italian Renaissance sculptor, Berlioz never forgave the conductor for his lifeless delivery of the second act's saltarello finale. So ten years later he used the saltarello as the opening of his Roman Carnival Overture, and took the trouble to conduct the work himself in its first performances. But even before the strings and winds can really launch the revelry, the solo horn and clarinet introduce some harmonic ambiguity, and the English horn slips in with the rapturous love-duet theme from the opera's first act. Suddenly, three swirling woodwind passages suggest that fireworks are being set off on the Piazza Colonna, and the saltarello takes over, eventually incorporating the love theme into the festivities.
Berlioz was so pleased with this overture, and with its reception as well, that he advocated using it as the prelude to the second act of Benvenuto Cellini. This practice is usually followed to this day. After the overture's publication in full score, Johann Peter Pixis arranged it for two pianos, eight hands. This arrangement received a performance by the pianistic luminaries
, and Pixis himself -- full testimony to its status as one of the hits of its day. ~ All Music Guide
| 125 Years of the Dresden Philharmonic, 1870-1995 (Box Set) |
1995 |
| 20th Century Maestros: Victor de Sabata & Dmitri Mitropoulos |
2000 |
| 8 Popular Overtures |
1992 |
| A Tribute to Jahn Cargher |
2008 |
| American Maestros |
2003 |
| André Previn - The Maestro |
1997 |
| Anthology of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vol. 2 (1950-1960) [Box Set] |
2003 |
| Arthur Nikisch |
1991 |
| Arthur Nikisch conducts Beethoven, Liszt & Berlioz |
|
| Artur Nikisch: Complete Orchestral Recordings |
|
| Arturo Toscanini & NBC Orchestra Vol. 9 |
1999 |
| Arturo Toscanini Collection, Volume 39 |
1992 |
| Beecham Conducts Händel, Mozart, Wagner, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Berlioz, Debussy, R. Strauss & Sibelius |
2005 |
| Beecham: Maestro Tempestoso (Box Set) |
2000 |
| Beecham: Maestro Tempestoso, Disc 4 |
2000 |
| Berlioz & Debussy |
2009 |
| Berlioz Edition (Box Set) |
2003 |
| Berlioz For Dummies |
|
| Berlioz Greatest Hits |
1989 |
| Berlioz, Bizet, Delibes, Ravel: Orchestral Works |
2002 |
| Berlioz: Complete Orchestral Works |
1997 |
| Berlioz: Concert Overtures |
2007 |
| Berlioz: Damnation of Faust Op24; Roman Carnival Overture Op9 |
1995 |
| Berlioz: Great Orchestral Works |
1994 |
| Berlioz: Harold en Italie |
1985 |
| Berlioz: Harold in Italy/Roman Carnival |
1988 |
| Berlioz: Harold in Italy; King Lear Overture; Roman Carnival Overture |
1991 |
| Berlioz: Harold in Italy; Overtures [Hybrid SACD] |
2007 |
| Berlioz: Les nuits d'été |
2000 |
| Berlioz: Lélio, ou Le Retour à la vie; Le Carnaval romain; Hélène |
2007 |
| Berlioz: Overtures |
1989 |
| Berlioz: Overtures |
1995 |
| Berlioz: Overtures |
1994 |
| Berlioz: Overtures |
2002 |
| Berlioz: Overtures |
2005 |
| Berlioz: Overtures; Queen Mab Scherzo |
1993 |
| Berlioz: Requiem; La Mort de Cléopatre; Ouverture du Carnaval Romain |
2005 |
| Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture Op9 |
1991 |
| Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture Op9; Corsaire Overture Op21 |
|
| Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture Op9; Harold in Italy Op16 |
|
| Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture Op9; Troyens H133 |
1997 |
| Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9; Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14 |
1993 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique |
1999 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique |
1982 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique |
2003 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, etc. |
1989 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique/Le Corsaire/Le Carnaval Romain |
1993 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Carnaval Romain |
1994 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Le Carnaval Romain |
2004 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Les Luits d'été; Ouvertures |
2001 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Ouverture du Corsaire; Le Carnaval Romain |
1997 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Overtures [Hybrid SACD] |
2005 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie Funebre et Triomphale |
1998 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique |
|
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique Op14; Roman Carnival Overture Op9 |
|
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique Op14; Roman Carnival Overture Op9 |
|
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Carnival Romain |
1998 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Harold en Italie; Overtures |
2006 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Le Carnaval Romain Overture |
2000 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Le Carnaval romain |
2003 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Le Carnaval romain Overture |
2002 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Le Carnaval romain; Le Corsaire |
2005 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Le carnaval romain; Overture to Béatrice et Bénédict |
2001 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Le carneval romain Overture |
1999 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Les nuits d'été; La mort de Cléopatre |
1994 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Overtures |
1992 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Overtures |
2002 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Roman Carnival Overture; Beatrice & Benedict Overture |
1994 |
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Roman Carnival Overture; Marche hongroise |
|
| Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Saint-Saëns: Organ Symphony |
1995 |
| Berlioz: Symphony Fantastique |
|
| Berlioz: The Fantastic Symphony |
1996 |
| Best-Loved Classics 10 |
1997 |
| Bizet & Berlioz |
1996 |
| Bizet: Roma / Symphony in C / Roman Carnival |
1988 |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sessions of November 22, 1944 |
1996 |
| Carnival |
1994 |
| Classic Brass |
2000 |
| Classical Pops |
|
| Classics at the Pops |
2004 |
| Classics at the Pops [Hybrid SACD] |
2004 |
| Classics in the Park |
1999 |
| Classique Tentation: Ballets, Ouvertures & Suites |
|
| Dallas Symphony Orchestra Centennial Musical Celebration |
|
| Danses et Ouvertures a l'Italienne |
|
| Decca Recordings, 1948-1953 [Box Set] |
2003 |
| Early Years (Box Set) |
|
| Enrique Bátiz cohnducts Popular Overtures |
1985 |
| Famous Overtures |
1997 |
| Festive Overtures |
|
| Franck: Symphony in D; French Music |
|
| French Favourites |
|
| French Masterworks |
2001 |
| French Symphonies |
1998 |
| Gateway To Classical Music: The Romantic Era |
1996 |
| Gateway To Classical Music: Volume 1/Volume 2 |
1994 |
| Hector Berlioz: Requiem Op. 5/3 Overtures |
|
| Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Le Carnaval Romain; Overture: Le Corsaire |
2003 |
| Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Overtures |
1990 |
| Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; The Corsair; Roman Carnival; Beatrice & Benedict; Benvenuto Cellini; King Lear |
1995 |
| Herbert Von Karajan - The Maestro |
|
| Ibert: Divertissement; Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre; Le Rouet D'Omphale |
1995 |
| Im Takt der Zeit |
|
| In Classical Mood: The Magic of Italy |
1998 |
| In Memory of Arturo Toscanini |
2007 |
| Instead Of Caffeine |
1997 |
| Italia! |
1994 |
| Italy's Greatest Hits |
1990 |
| Karajan Edition - Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique Etc. |
1998 |
| Karel Ancerl Conducts Celebrated Overtures |
1999 |
| Koussevitzky: Maestro Risoluto (Box Set) |
|
| Koussevitzky: Maestro Risoluto, Disc 2 |
2001 |
| Leo Blech Conducts Berlioz, Smetana, Liszt, Schubert |
1991 |
| Leo Music of the Zodiac |
1996 |
| Lifestyles Music for the Festive Gourmet |
2000 |
| Light Cavalry |
1988 |
| Light Cavalry and Other Romantic Overtures |
1997 |
| Live from the Oscar Mayer Theatre: Highlights from a Decade of DeMain |
2003 |
| London Horn Sound |
1999 |
| Maestro Celebre: Leopold Stokowski [Box Set] |
|
| Maestro Celebre: Leopold Stokowski, CD 4 |
|
| Mahler: Symphony No.1/Berlioz: Le Carnaval Romain |
|
| Mengelberg Conducts French Music |
1994 |
| Mengelberg Conducts Liszt, Berlioz, Weber |
2002 |
| Munch Conducts Berlioz [Box Set] |
2004 |
| Munch conducts Berlioz |
1996 |
| Offenbach Overtures |
1992 |
| Opera Overtures |
|
| Orchestral Showpieces |
1998 |
| Overturas |
2004 |
| Overtures |
1998 |
| Overtures by Berlioz; Mendelssohn; Schubert; Smetana & Strauss |
2004 |
| Panorama: Hector Berlioz |
2000 |
| Paul van Kempen Conducts Berlioz, Beethoven, Schubert, Tchaikovsky |
1995 |
| Philharmonia Promenade Concert |
2005 |
| Popular Classics |
|
| Portrait of Andre Previn |
1999 |
| Proms Favourites |
|
| Quiet Time Classics (Box Set) |
2004 |
| Recording Pioneers (1898-1924) |
|
| Recordings From 1939 to 1946 |
|
| Roman Carnival |
1991 |
| Roman Festival |
1994 |
| Roman Festival |
|
| Romantic Orchestral Masterpieces |
|
| Romantic Overtures |
2000 |
| Romantique: Dreams of Love |
2006 |
| Rossini, Auber, Berlioz: Overtures [SACD] |
2000 |
| Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3; Koechlin: Les Bandar-Log; Cherubini: Anacreon Overture |
2005 |
| Sergiu Celibidache: From the collection of Deutsches Rundfunkarchiv |
|
| Sir Adrian Boult conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 2 |
2006 |
| Sir Hamilton Harty Conducts Berlioz |
|
| Sir Thomas Beecham Conducts Berlioz |
|
| Sir Thomas Beecham Conducts Favourite Overtures, Volume II |
1994 |
| Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Berlioz and others |
|
| Sunday Evenings with Pierre Monteux [Box Set] |
|
| Sunday Evenings with Pierre Monteux [Box Set] |
1997 |
| Symphonic Spectaculars |
1988 |
| Symphony Hall Centennial Celebration [Box Set] |
2001 |
| Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Berlioz and others |
|
| The 20th Century Maestros (Box Set) |
|
| The Berlin Album |
|
| The Berlioz Experience [Box Set] |
|
| The Best of Berlioz |
1999 |
| The Complete EMI Recordings 1946-1984, Vol. 1: Orchestral [Box Set] |
2008 |
| The Great Classics |
|
| The Great French Classics |
1997 |
| The Legendary Concert in Salzburg, August 1, 1953 |
|
| The Ultimate Overtures |
|
| Time Out |
2000 |
| Time Out Classics (Box Set) |
2000 |
| Time Out Classics, Vol. 2 |
2000 |
| Victor Fedotov Conducts Berlioz, Gounod, Dukas, Ravel |
2004 |
| Victor de Sabata |
|
| Vive la Liberte |
1991 |
| Wagner, Brahms and Berlioz |
|
| World of Classics: The Great History of French Classical Music [Box Set] |
1998 |
| World of Classics: The Great History of French Classical Music, Disc 2 |
1998 |
| World's Greatest Overtures |
1995 |
