This dramatic symphony, complete with chorus and three soloists, follows the narrative of Shakespeare’s play closely, and it’s done with Berlioz’s characteristic originality and imaginative flair. The San Francisco Symphony plays with its customary polish, everything given an alluring sheen, and their performance is recorded with a great sense of perspective. Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas revels in the music’s drama, variety and richness—the incandescent, shimmering Love Scene melts beautifully into a frenetic Scherzo - Queen Mab, for example. The soloists and chorus sing with fervour. A really impressive performance.