Ophelia
Donald Macleod explores the women who shaped Hector Berlioz鈥檚 life and work. Today, his Ophelia 鈥� the love interest who was to have a fatal influence over his life.
Donald Macleod pulls back the curtain on Berlioz鈥檚 greatest obsession.
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, starting with the woman who would have a fatal influence over him 鈥� his Ophelia. As the curtain rises for a performance of Hamlet at the Paris Odeon theatre, little does Berlioz know what he would later call the 鈥渟upreme drama鈥� of his life, is about to begin...
Marche Fun猫bre pour la derni猫re sc猫ne d鈥楬amlet (Tristia, Op 18)
Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique
John Eliot Gardiner, conductor
Irlande (La belle voyageuse)
Anne Sofie von Otter, soprano
Cord Garben, piano
Romeo et Juliette 鈥� Sc猫ne d鈥檃mour
London Symphony Orchestra
Colin Davis, conductor
Lelio 鈥� Choeur d鈥檕mbres
John Alldis Choir
London Symphony Orchestra
Colin Davis, conductor
Symphonie Fantastique (1st movement 鈥� Reveries 鈥� Passions)
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Mariss Jansons, conductor
Produced in Cardiff by Amelia Parker
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Hector Berlioz
Tristia, Op 18 (Marche Fun猫bre pour la derni猫re sc猫ne d'Hamlet)
Orchestra: Orchestre R茅volutionnaire et Romantique. Choir: Monteverdi Choir. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.- PHILIPS 4466762.
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Hector Berlioz
Irlande, Op 2 (La belle voyageuse)
Performer: Cord Garben. Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter.- DG : 445-823-2.
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Hector Berlioz
Romeo et Juliette - Sc猫ne d'amour
Conductor: Colin Davis. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- PHILIPS : 416-963-2.
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Hector Berlioz
Lelio - Choeur d'ombres
Conductor: Colin Davis. Choir: The John Alldis Choir. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- PHILIPS : 416-961-2.
- PHILIPS.
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Hector Berlioz
Symphonie Fantastique, Op 14 (1st movement - Reveries - Passions)
Conductor: Mariss Jansons.- BR KLASSIK : 900121.
- BR KLASSIK.
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Broadcast
- Mon 5 Jul 2021 12:00蜜芽传媒 Radio 3
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