Symphonic Monuments – Berlioz

The Symphonic Monuments series features works that have not only stood the test of time but also have the power to surprise. This time, Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique will resound -a work unique in its form, content, and story behind it.

Hector Berlioz was born on December 11, 1803, in La Côte-Saint-André, France. Initially, he studied medicine in Paris but soon abandoned it in favor of music, against his father's wishes. In 1826, he began studying at the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied composition under Jean-François Le Sueur. Even then, he showed a fondness for experimentation and breaking musical conventions.

In 1827, during a performance of Hamlet at the Théâtre de l'Odéon in Paris, Berlioz saw the Irish actress Harriet Smithson playing the role of Ophelia. He fell in love at first sight, although he never met her at the time. Inspired by this obsession, he composed Symphonie Fantastique, which premiered on December 5, 1830, at the Paris Conservatoire. The work tells the story of a young artist who, rejected by his beloved, takes opium and experiences a series of hallucinations, including his execution and a witches' sabbath. The symphony consists of five movements connected by a recurring theme -idée fixe- symbolizing the beloved.

Berlioz placed great importance on the program of the work. During the premiere, printed story descriptions were distributed to the audience to help them understand the musical narrative. The program stated: The plan of an instrumental drama, lacking the support of words, must be presented in advance. The following program should, therefore, be treated as the spoken text of an opera, serving to introduce the musical pieces whose character and expression it motivates.

Two years after the premiere, in 1832, Smithson finally heard the symphony live and learned that she had been its muse. They met, and in 1833, they were married, with Franz Liszt as a witness. However, their relationship was turbulent and ended in separation. Despite this, Berlioz supported Harriet financially until the end of her life and cared for her during her illness.

Symphonie Fantastique was a breakthrough in Romantic music. Berlioz employed innovative orchestration techniques, such as bells in the fifth movement, to convey the atmosphere of the witches' sabbath. The piece inspired many composers and is still regarded as one of the most important achievements of 19th-century music.

Before the concert, Przemysław Neumann will also conduct the performance and speak about the work. Because sometimes it's good to know how madness is born-the kind of madness we now call a masterpiece. That is what the Symphonic Monuments are all about.

Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique performed by the SWR Symphonieorchester under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach: