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The Romantic Idealist

Donald Macleod explores the music that resulted from Berlioz's romantic idealism, including his falling in love, precociously, at the age of 12.

"My whole life," Berlioz wrote, "has been one long ardent pursuit of an ideal which I created myself." In this programme, Donald Macleod explores the music that resulted from Berlioz's romantic idealism, including his falling in love, precociously, at the age of 12; and later, in what he called "the grand drama of my life," his overwhelming infatuation with the young Irish actress Harriet Smithson, an infatuation which would produce two of his genre-defying works, Symphonie Fantastique and Lélio, or the Return to Life.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Hector Berlioz

    Les Nuits d'ete Op.7 - Le Spectre de la rose

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis. Singer: Barbara Hendricks.
    • EMI : CDC 5-55053 2.
    • EMI.
    • 2.
  • Hector Berlioz

    Les Nuits d'ete Op.7 - Le Spectre de la rose

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis. Singer: Barbara Hendricks.
    • EMI : CDC 5-55053 2.
    • EMI.
    • 2.
  • Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie fantastique Op.14 - 1st movement; Reveries, passions

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Stanisław Skrowaczewski.
    • Chandos: CHAN 8727.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.
  • Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie fantastique Op.14 - 1st movement; Reveries, passions

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Stanisław Skrowaczewski.
    • Chandos: CHAN 8727.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.
  • Hector Berlioz

    Lelio (Le retour a la vie) - monodrama Op.14`2

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis. Choir: The John Alldis Choir.
    • PHILIPS : 416-961-2.
    • PHILIPS.
    • 7.
  • Hector Berlioz

    Lelio (Le Retour A La Vie) - Monodrama Op.14`2

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis. Choir: The John Alldis Choir.
    • PHILIPS : 416-961-2.
    • PHILIPS.
    • 7.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 27 May 2014 12:00
  • Tue 27 May 2014 18:30
  • Tue 11 Aug 2015 18:30

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