Berlioz, the passionate, ardent, irrepressible genius of French Romanticism, left a rich and original oeuvre which exerted a profound influence on nineteenth century music. Berlioz developed a profound affinity toward music and literature as a child. Sent to Paris at 17 to study medicine, he was enchanted by Gluck's operas, firmly deciding to become a composer. With his father's reluctant consent, Berlioz entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1826. Read more His originality was already apparent and disconcerting -- a competition cantata, Cléopâtre (1829), looms as his first sustained masterpiece -- and he won the Prix de Rome in 1830 amid the turmoil of the July Revolution. Meanwhile, a performance of Hamlet in September 1827, with Harriet Smithson as Ophelia, provoked an overwhelming but unrequited passion, whose aftermath may be heard in the Symphonie fantastique (1830).

Returning from Rome, Berlioz organized a concert in 1832, featuring his symphony. Harriet Smithson was in the audience. They were introduced days later and married on October 3, 1833.

Berlioz settled into a career pattern which he maintained for more than a decade, writing reviews, organizing concerts, and composing a series of visionary masterpieces: Harold en Italie (1834), the monumental Requiem (1837), and an opera, Benvenuto Cellini (1838), a crushing fiasco. At year's end, the dying Paganini made Berlioz a gift of 20,000 francs, enabling him to devote nearly a year to the composition of his "dramatic symphony," Roméo et Juliette (1839). And then, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the July Revolution, came the Symphonie funèbre et triomphale (1840).

Iridescently scored, an exquisite collection of six Gautier settings, Les nuits d'été, opened the new decade. This was a difficult time for Berlioz, as his marriage failed to bring him the happiness he desired. Concert tours to Brussels, many German cities, Vienna, Pesth, Prague, and London occupied him through most of the 1840s. He composed La Damnation de Faust, en route, offering the new work to a half-empty house in Paris, December 6, 1846. Expenses were catastrophic, and only a successful concert tour to St. Petersburg saved him.

He sat out the revolutionary upheavals of 1848 in London, returning to Paris in July. The massive Te Deum -- a "little brother" to the Requiem -- was largely composed over 1849, though it would not be heard until 1855. L'Enfance du Christ, scored an immediate and enduring success from its first performance on December 10, 1854. Elected to the Institut de France in 1855, he started receiving a members' stipend, and this provided him with a modicum of financial security. Consequently, Berlioz was able to devote himself to the summa of his career, his vast opera, Les Troyens, based on Virgil's Aeneid, the Roman poet's unfinished epic masterpiece. The opera was completed in 1858. As he negotiated for its performance, he composed a comique adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, which met with a rapturous Baden première, on August 9, 1862. Unfortunately, only the third, fourth, and fifth acts of Les Troyens were mounted by the Théatre-Lyrique, a successful premiere, on November 4, 1863, and a run of 21 performances notwithstanding. This lopsided production stemmed from a compromise (bitterly regretted by the composer) that Berlioz had made with the Théâtre-Lyrique.

Though frail and ailing, Berlioz conducted his works in Vienna and Cologne in 1866, traveling to St. Petersburg and Moscow in the winter of 1867-1868. Despondent and tortured by self-doubt, the composer received a triumphant welcome in Russia. Back in Paris in March 1868, he was but a walking shadow as paralysis slowly overcame him. Read less

Featured Hector Berlioz CDs & DVDs:

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Gatti, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Release Date: 09/09/2016 Label: Rco Live
Catalog: 16006 Number of Discs: 1

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Berlioz: Les Troyens / Dutoit, Lakes, Pollet, Voigt, Et Al

Release Date: 10/03/1994 Label: Decca
Catalog: 443693 Number of Discs: 4

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Berlioz: Beatrice et Benedict / Davis, Baker, Allen

Release Date: 03/25/2010 Label: Philips
Catalog: 475221 Number of Discs: 2

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Berlioz: Les Troyens / Dutoit, Lakes, Pollet, Voigt, Ainsley

Release Date: 11/21/2011 Label: Decca
Catalog: 001616402 Number of Discs: 4

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Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini / Davis, Gedda, Eda-pierre

Release Date: 04/08/2003 Label: Philips
Catalog: 416955 Number of Discs: 3

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Work: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14

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Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique - Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie Suite / Harding, Swedish Radio Symphony

Label: Harmonia Mundi Catalog: 902244 Release Date: 09/30/2016 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Hector Berlioz, Jean-Philippe Rameau
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Orchestra/Ensemble: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

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Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Gatti, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Label: Rco Live Catalog: 16006 Release Date: 09/09/2016 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Conductor: Daniele Gatti
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

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Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Gatti, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra [Blu-ray]

Label: Rco Live Catalog: 16108 Release Date: 09/09/2016 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Conductor: Daniele Gatti
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

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Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique / Gatti, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra [DVD]

Label: Rco Live Catalog: 16109 Release Date: 09/09/2016 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Conductor: Daniele Gatti
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

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The Originals, Vol. 2

Label: Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 002534902 Release Date: 09/09/2016 Number of Discs: 50
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Béla Bartók, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ...
Performer: Helmut Walcha, Nathan Milstein, Géza Anda, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli ...
Conductor: Ferenc Fricsay, Carlo Maria Giulini, Eugen Jochum, Wolfgang Schneiderhan ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra ...

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Symphonies & Symphonic Poems / Mehta

Label: Decca Catalog: 002488802 Release Date: 05/13/2016 Number of Discs: 23
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Strauss, Hector Berlioz, Anton Bruckner ...
Performer: Sidney Harth, Maureen Forrester, Daniel Benyamini, Christa Ludwig ...
Conductor: Zubin Mehta
Orchestra/Ensemble: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra ...

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Un siecle de musique francaise (A Century of French Music)

Label: Sony Catalog: 88875192862 Release Date: 05/13/2016 Number of Discs: 25
Composer: Pierre Boulez, Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, Olivier Messiaen ...
Performer: Yvonne Minton, Gervase de Peyer, Michel Dalberto, Daniel Varsano ...
Conductor: Pierre Boulez, Charles Munch, Seiji Ozawa, Richard Marlow ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Ensemble Musique Vivante, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra ...

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Europakonzert: 25 DVD Anniversary Box (1991-2015) / Berliner Philharmoniker

Label: Euroarts Catalog: 26098 Release Date: 04/29/2016
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Béla Bartók, Ludwig van Beethoven, Hector Berlioz ...
Performer: Leonidas Kavakos, Mikhail Pletnev, Violeta Urmana, Elke Wilm Schulte ...
Conductor: Simon Rattle, Pierre Boulez, Gustavo Dudamel, Claudio Abbado ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Swedish Radio Choir, Eric Ericson Chamber Choir

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Claudio Abbado: The Last Concert [2 CD + 1 Pure Audio Blu-ray]

Label: Berlin Philharmonic Catalog: 160081 Release Date: 03/11/2016 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Hector Berlioz, Felix Mendelssohn
Performer: Stella Doufexis, Deborah York
Conductor: Claudio Abbado
Orchestra/Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Womens' Choir

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Decca Sound – Dutoit: The Montreal Years

Label: Decca Catalog: 002449102 Release Date: 02/19/2016 Number of Discs: 35
Composer: Maurice Ravel, Camille Saint-Saëns, Ernest Chausson, Manuel de Falla ...
Performer: Pascal Rogé, Timothy Hutchins, Beverly Hoch, Stanford Olsen ...
Conductor: Charles Dutoit
Orchestra/Ensemble: Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Chorus

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Berlioz: Symphonie Fanstastique; Schubert: Impromptu; Chopin: Fantaisie

Label: Gall (Formerly Gallo) Catalog: 1448 Release Date: 02/09/2016 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Hector Berlioz, Franz Schubert, Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Alexandre Rabinovitch
Conductor: Alexandre Rabinovitch

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111: The Collector's Editions [111 CDs]

Label: Dg Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 002422702 Release Date: 12/11/2015 Number of Discs: 111
Composer: Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, Maurice Ravel, Felix Mendelssohn ...
Performer: David Oistrakh, Igor Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Martha Argerich ...
Conductor: Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Lorin Maazel, Franz Konwitschny ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Amadeus Quartet, Orchestre de Paris ...

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Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique / Haitink, Concertgebouw Orchestra [Blu-ray]

Label: Arthaus Musik Catalog: 109167 Release Date: 11/13/2015 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Conductor: Bernard Haitink
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

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Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique / Haitink, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Label: Arthaus Musik Catalog: 109166 Release Date: 11/13/2015 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Conductor: Bernard Haitink
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

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The History of Classical Music in 24 Hours

Label: Dg Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 002403602 Release Date: 11/13/2015 Number of Discs: 24
Composer: Anonymous, Pérotin, Guillaume de Machaut, John Dunstable ...
Performer: Konrad Ragossnig, Charles [Tenor Vocals] Daniels, Susan Gritton, Trevor Pinnock ...
Conductor: Pater Godehard Joppich, David Munrow, Josef Ulsamer, Bruno Turner ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Early Music Consort of London, Ulsamer-Collegium, Pro Cantione Antiqua ...

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Cultural Death: Music Under Tyranny

Label: Arbiter Catalog: 162 Release Date: 10/16/2015 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Hector Berlioz
Performer: Alfred Hoehn
Conductor: Oswald Kabasta, Reinhold Merten, Oskar Fried

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17.

The Late Years - Erato and HMV Recordings, 1968-75 / Martinon

Label: Erato Catalog: 552547 Release Date: 09/25/2015 Number of Discs: 14
Composer: Albert Roussel, Aram Khachaturian, Gabriel Pierné, Francis Poulenc ...
Performer: Jean-Pierre Rampal, Lily Laskine, Marie-Claire Alain, Robert Veyron-Lacroix ...
Conductor: Jean Martinon

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18.

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Lelio / Depardieu, Muti, Chicago Symphony

Label: Cso Resound Catalog: 9011501 Release Date: 09/11/2015 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Performer: Kyle [Bass-Baritone Vocal] Ketelsen, Mario Zeffiri, Gérard Depardieu
Conductor: Riccardo Muti
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Chorus
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19.

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

Label: Lodia Music Catalog: 777 Release Date: 09/08/2015 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Conductor: Carlos Païta

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Fantastique / Bostock, Argovia Philharmonic

Label: Coviello Classics Catalog: 91508 Release Date: 08/28/2015 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Carl Maria von Weber, Hector Berlioz
Conductor: Douglas Bostock
Orchestra/Ensemble: Argovia Philharmonic

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21.

Mariss Jansons Live: The Radio Recordings, 1990-2014 [13-CDs & 1 DVD]

Label: Rco Live Catalog: 15002 Release Date: 06/30/2015 Number of Discs: 14
Composer: Louis Andriessen, Hector Berlioz, Anton Bruckner, Maurice Ravel ...
Performer: Dmitri Sitkovetsky, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Leo van Doeselaar ...
Conductor: Mariss Jansons
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

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22.

Mercury Living Presence - The Collector's Edition Vol 3

Label: Mercury Living Presence Catalog: 002275902 Release Date: 03/23/2015 Number of Discs: 53
Composer: Johannes Brahms, Franz Lehár, Emil Waldteufel, Johann Strauss Jr. ...
Performer: Rafael Druian, Georges Miquelle, Eugene List, Alfred Mouledous ...
Conductor: Antal Doráti, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Frederick Fennell, Anatole Fistoulari ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Hungarica ...

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23.

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Etc / Ozawa, Boston Symphony

Label: Pentatone Catalog: 5186211 Release Date: 03/10/2015 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
Orchestra/Ensemble: Boston Symphony Orchestra

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Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

Label: Accentus Catalog: 101 Release Date: 01/27/2015 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Conductor: Fabio Luisi

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25.

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Harold En Italie; Romeo Et Juliette; La Mort De Cleopatre

Label: Urania Records Catalog: 121195 Release Date: 01/06/2015 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Performer: William Lincer, Jennie Tourel
Conductor: Leonard Bernstein

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