“Yet again Sir Colin Davis demonstrates his supreme mastery as a Berlioz interpreter … especially fascinating is to compare this latest Harold en Italie with earlier versions – the biggest contrast is the extra tautness of Davis’s interpretation, with speeds consistently faster … the textures are sparer, sharper and lighter – bringing extra incisiveness all round. One other benefit is that the magnificent Tabea Zimmermann, is balanced as part of the orchestra. The beauty of her tone, with its nut-brown colours on the C-string, is never masked, but the balance allows pianissimi of a delicacy never achieved by the 1975 version. In the introduction there is a repeat marked ‘pianissimo possibile’ – just what you hear in magic tones.” (Gramophone)
