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Donald Macleod explores the women who shaped Hector Berlioz鈥檚 life and work. Today, we meet the mystery lady who would become the second Madame Berlioz.

Donald Macleod introduces us to Berlioz鈥檚 enigmatic mistress and second wife.

Hector Berlioz was one the most innovative and rebellious musicians of 19th-century France. He was a man of unwaveringly high expectations, in his wider life as well as his music. As the quintessential Romantic, one friend said that love was the 鈥渁lpha and omega of his existence鈥. This week Donald Macleod looks at Berlioz through the passions and relationships that shaped who he was and what he created, exploring the romantic obsessions of an especially obsessive man. We鈥檒l also hear a movement of his Symphonie Fantastique each day 鈥 Berlioz鈥檚 best known work, and the musical embodiment of his most powerful infatuation.

Today, Berlioz鈥檚 success finds him touring across Europe, with a mystery companion who claims to be his wife. We鈥檒l trace his affair with the opera singer, Marie Recio, as his real marriage crumbles, and Marie鈥檚 disguise soon becomes a reality. In this less obsessive relationship, he鈥檒l find a new kind of love 鈥 and loyalty.

Marche Hongroise
London Symphony Orchestra
Simon Rattle, conductor

Nuits d鈥櫭﹖茅 (1. Villanelle, 5. Absence)
Brigitte Balleys, mezzo-soprano
Orchestre des Champs-Elysees
Philippe Herreweghe, conductor

Symphonie Fantastique (4th movement 鈥 Marche au supplice)
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Robin Ticciati, conductor

L鈥橢nfance du Christ, Part II : La fuite en Egypte
Yann Beuron, tenor
Tenebrae
London Symphony Orchestra
Colin Davis, conductor

B茅atrice et B茅nedict, Act II No 10 : 鈥淒ieu, que viens j鈥檈ntendre?....Il m鈥檈n souvient 鈥
Susan Graham, soprano (Beatrice)
Choeur et Orchestre de l鈥橭pera de Lyon
John Nelson, conductor

Produced in Cardiff by Amelia Parker

59 minutes

Last on

Thu 8 Jul 2021 12:00

Music Played

  • Hector Berlioz

    La Damnation De Faust, Op 24 (Marche Hongroise)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • LSO LIVE : LSO-0809.
    • LSO LIVE.
    • 3.
  • Hector Berlioz

    Les Nuits d'ete, Op 7 (1. Villanelle, 5. Absence)

    Performer: Champs-Elysees Orchestra. Singer: Brigitte Balleys. Conductor: Philippe Herreweghe.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC 901-522.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 1.
  • Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie Fantastique, Op 14 (4th movement - Marche au supplice)

    Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Robin Ticciati.
    • LINN CKD 400.
    • LINN.
    • 4.
  • Hector Berlioz

    L' Enfance du Christ, Op 25, Part II: La fuite en Egypt

    Choir: Tenebrae. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Singer: Yann Beuron. Conductor: Colin Davis.
    • LSO LSO0606.
    • LSO LSO0606.
    • 9.
  • Hector Berlioz

    B茅atrice et B茅nedict, Act II No 10 : "Dieu, que viens j'entendre?..."

    Singer: Susan Graham. Orchestra: Lyon Opera Orchestra. Choir: Lyon Opera Chorus. Conductor: John Nelson.
    • MUSICFRANCE : 2292-45773-2.
    • MUSICFRANCE.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Thu 8 Jul 2021 12:00

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