Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique & Lélio, ou Le retour à la vie (Live)

Featuring

Riccardo Muti
Gérard Depardieu
Kyle Ketelsen
Mario Zeffiri
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus

Hector Berlioz

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Notable Performances

The complete dramatic work, Episode in the Life of an Artist (Symphonie fantastique and Lélio), was performed as Berlioz envisioned only once during his lifetime, staged by Franz Liszt in 1855.

Recording & Production

The recording captures the unique acoustics of the live performance, where narrator Gérard Depardieu moved across the stage, causing his voice to vary in proximity to the microphones.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Hector Berlioz considered the pairing of his Symphonie fantastique and its sequel, Lélio, to be his signature artistic statement.

Composition History

The idea for Lélio arose after Berlioz's real-life fiancée, Camille Moke, left him for another man, prompting an emotional crisis resolved through this new work.

Composition History

Berlioz wrote Lélio as a 'conclusion and complement' to Symphonie fantastique, intending it to resolve the earlier work's story and serve as a testament to music's healing power.

Compositional Technique

Berlioz created Lélio, which he called a 'mélologue' (a mix of monologue and melodrama), by linking pieces of music he had recently composed with theatrical monologues he wrote himself.

Recording & Production

This recording recreates Berlioz's original concept for Lélio, including a scrim drawn between the musicians and the audience, which was lifted only for the finale.