Symphonie Fantastique - Ataulfo Argent

Berlioz

Symphonie Fantastique

Episode de la vie d'un artist

Opus 14
Altaulfo Argenta conducting The Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
London Records LL 3016

From the back cover: Ataulfo Argenta was born at Castro Urdiales, Santander, in 1913. At the age of thirteen he entered the Conservatory of Madrid, where he won the Kristina Nilsson Prize enabling him to continue his musical studies in Belgium and Germany. In the latter country he was appointed professor of the piano at the Conservatory of Cassel before returning to Spain at the end of the Civil War.

In 1944 Argenta made his debut as an orchestral conductor, directing the Madrid Chamber Orchestra. The following year he directed the National Orchestra of Madrid with such success that in 1946 he was appointed its principal conductor. Since then he appeared with outstanding success in various European centers, including Paris, Rome and Vienna, and also toured South America. In the summer of 1952 he directed a most successful festival of Spanish music at Granada. He met a tragic death via a motor accident (January 1958) shortly after having completed the present recording.

First Movement: Reveries, passions (Largo – Allegro agitato ed appassionato assai)

Second Movement: Un Bal (Valse: Allegro non troppo)

Third Movement: Scene aux champs (Adagio) (Part 1)

Third Movement: Scene aux champs (Adagio)(Concluded)

Fourth Movement: Marche au supplice (Allegretto non troppo)

Fifth Movement: Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat (Larghetto–Allegro)