Berlioz
Louis-Hector Berlioz ( 11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869 ) was a French Romantic composer and conductor. His output includes orchestral works such as the Symphonie fantastique and Harold in Italy, choral pieces including the Requiem and L'Enfance du Christ, his three operas Benvenuto Cellini, Les Troyens and Béatrice et Bénédict, and works of hybrid genres such as the "dramatic symphony" Roméo et Juliette and the "dramatic legend" La Damnation de Faust.
The elder son of a provincial doctor, Berlioz was expected to follow his father into medicine, and he attended a Parisian medical college before defying his family by taking up music as a profession. His independence of mind and refusal to follow traditional rules and formulas put him at odds with the conservative musical establishment of Paris. He briefly moderated his style sufficiently to win France's premier music prize – the Prix de Rome – in 1830, but he learned little from the academics of the Paris Conservatoire. Opinion was divided for many years between those who thought him an original genius and those who viewed his music as lacking in form and coherence.
-
Symphonie Fantastique (1979)
In this live recording from the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Bernard Haitink conducts his Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in a
performance of Hector Berlioz’s „Symphonie Fantastique“. Berlioz wrote his symphony, subtitled „Episodes in the Life of an Artist“,
in 1830. It deals, autobiographically, wi... -
Roméo et Juliette Op. 17 (1986)
This live recording features a concert performance of Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette, a dramatic symphony, with solo and choral voices, in the original French language version.
Sir Colin Davis conducts the Bavarian Radio Symphony Chorus and Orchestra with soloists Philip Langridge (tenor), Hanna ... -
La Damnation de Faust (1989)
This live recording was made at the Royal Albert Hall during one of London’s famous Promenade Concert seasons. Sir Georg Solti conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a magnificent performance of Berlioz’s concert cantata. This feast of Berlioz launched Solti’s farewell tour with th...
-
Benvenuto Cellini (2015)
Benvenuto Cellini by H. Berlioz, from Dutch National Opera, performed at Dutch National Opera and Ballet, 2015. Directed by Terry Gilliam, conductor Mark Elder, starring Michèle Losier, John Osborn, Orlin Anastassov, André Morsch, Laurent Naouri, Marcel Beekman, Mariangela Sicilia, Maurizio Murar...
-
Requiem (Grande Messe des Morts) (2019)
Requiem (Grande Messe des Morts) by H. Berlioz, 2019. Conductor John Nelson, starring Michael Spyres. Performed in Latin.
-
La damnation de Faust (1999)
La damnation de Faust by H. Berlioz, from Salzburg Festival, performed at Großes Festspielhaus, 1999. Directed by La Fura Dels Baus /Carlus Padrissa, conductor Sylvain Cambreling, starring Vesselina Kasarova,Willard White,Andreas Macco,Paul Groves. Performed in French
-
Béatrice et Bénédict (2016)
Béatrice et Bénédict by H.Berlioz, from Glyndebourne Festival Opera, performed at Glyndebourne Festival Theatre, Glyndebourne, 2016. Directed by Laurent Pelly, conductor Antonello Manacorda, starring Philippe Sly,Stéphanie d’Oustrac,Paul Appleby,Sophie Karthäuser,Lionel Lhote,Frédéric Caton,Katar...
