Robin Ticciati - Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Berlioz: Les nuits d'ete - Herald Scotland

Robin Ticciati has by now embedded the unique soundworld of Hector Berlioz into the Scottish Chamber Orchestra's DNA - the impact is audible in the way they play core repertoire like Beethoven and Schumann. Meanwhile the orchestra brings fresh style and insight into the French composer's orchestral writing. Last year's period-ish account of the Symphonie fantastique was a real ear-opener; this year's follow-up - a gorgeous collection of Les nuits d'été, the Love Scene from Roméo et Juliette and La mort de Cléopâtre - is even more seductive thanks to the poetic, tender, captivating voice of Arbroath-born mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill. The sound engineers at Linn capture every shimmering hue.