Berlioz: Symphony fantastique, Op. 14, H. 48 & Fantaisie dramatique sur la tempête, H. 52
6/28/2019, 9 Tracks, 1:10:08
Sir Andrew Davis and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra perform music by Berlioz both well known and obscure. The evergreen Symphonie fantastique, Berlioz's wildly original programmatic depiction of an artist's opium trip, is coupled with the four-movement Fantaisie dramatique for orchestra and chorus, inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest, that became the finale of his ‘monodrama’ Lélio.
Featuring
Sir Andrew Davis
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
Hector Berlioz
Did you know?
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Compositional Technique
The Symphonie fantastique uses a recurring theme, called the idée fixe, which represents the artist's love and transforms throughout the five movements.
Compositional Technique
Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique was groundbreaking in its orchestration, notably introducing harps into the symphony orchestra for the first time in the 'Un Bal' movement.
Composition History
Berlioz composed the Symphonie fantastique in little more than three months, and it was first performed later the same year.
Composition History
The 'Fantaisie sur la Tempête de Shakespeare' became the finale of Berlioz's 'monodrama' Lélio, ou Le Retour à la vie, which he composed after a traumatic personal crisis.
Composition History
The 'Fantaisie sur la Tempête de Shakespeare' was originally an 'Overture' inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest, which Berlioz composed before leaving for Italy.
Performer Biography
Sir Andrew Davis, the interim artistic director for this recording, has a forty-four-year relationship with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Composition History
Hector Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique was inspired by his unrequited passion for Irish actress Harriet Smithson, whom he later married.
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