Ophelia and Ariel
Donald Macleod sees Berlioz deeply unsettled by his first encounter with Shakespeare. After two unhappy love affairs, Berlioz finds himself in danger of fatally losing his way.
Donald Macleod sees Berlioz deeply unsettled by his first encounter with Shakespeare.
Berlioz burst onto the musical stage of 19th-century Paris, determined to break the mould of France’s elegant and refined classical style. He wanted to create music that could be bombastic, barbaric and grotesque, as well as sentimental, scintillating and sorrowful. In this, he was inspired by writers as much as fellow musicians. He was captivated by stories and crowded his imagination with the tales of Virgil, Scott, Goethe and, most of all, William Shakespeare. This week, Donald Macleod traces the tangled literary connections in Berlioz’s life and music, including the profound spell cast by Shakespeare over the composer’s art and personality.
Today, Berlioz has an extraordinary reaction to seeing Shakespeare performed for the first time. He also embarks on two unhappy love affairs and finds himself in danger of fatally losing his way.
Roméo et Juliette, Op 17: Part 2 (extract)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Sir Andrew Davis
La Damnation de Faust: Scène 15.
Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano (Marguerite)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Philharmonia Chorus
conducted by Myung-Whun Chung
Symphonie fantastique: II. Un bal (Valse)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Claudio Abbado
Lélio, ou Le Retour a la vie: VI. Fantaisie sur ‘La tempête’ de Shakespeare
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus
conducted by Riccardo Muti
Symphonie fantastique: V. Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat
Berliner Philharmoniker
conducted by Sir Simon Rattle
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Hector Berlioz
Roméo et Juliette, Op 17: Part 2 (extract)
Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.- Chandos CHSA 5169.
- Chandos.
- 9.
-
![]()
Hector Berlioz
La Damnation de Faust: Scène 15
Singer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Choir: Philharmonia Chorus. Conductor: Myung-Whun Chung.- DG : 4535002.
- DG.
- 13.
-
![]()
Hector Berlioz
Symphonie fantastique: II. Un bal (Valse)
Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 474-165-2.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 3.
-
![]()
Hector Berlioz
Lélio, ou Le Retour a la vie: VI. Fantaisie sur 'La tempête' de Shakespeare
Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Muti.- Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Lelio / Depardieu, Muti, Chicago Symphony.
- CSO RE-SOUND.
- 12.
-
![]()
Hector Berlioz
Symphonie fantastique: V. Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat
Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.- EMI CLASSICS : 2-16224 0.
- EMI CLASSICS.
- 5.
Broadcast
- Tue 7 Nov 2023 12:00BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.