Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Hector Berlioz
Berlioz is perhaps unique among composers in having had a
literary gift almost the equal of his musical one. He earned his
bread-and-butter living as a writer, turning out witty and often
acerbic music criticism for the influential Journal des débats
and Gazette musicale among others. Donald starts this week with a
look at Berlioz through his engaging, passionate and entertaining
Memoirs. Next, he delves into the world of Berlioz’s literary
muses – first and foremost, Virgil, Goethe and Shakespeare. We
hear about Benvenuto Cellini, the opera whose “verve, impetus and
brilliance” Berlioz feared he would never again equal, and his
attempt to secure the coveted Prix de Rome amidst the thundering
July Revolution. We also encounter some of the celebrated
musicians he rubbed shoulders with – among them Liszt, Cherubini,
Schumann, Mendelssohn, Wagner and Paganini.
Music featured: Les Nuits d’été, Op 7 (Villanelle) Overture Les
Francs-Juges, Op 3 Grande Messe des Morts, Op 5 (Dies irae) La
Damnation de Faust, Op 24 (extract) Béatrice et Bénédict (Act 1)
Zaïde, Op 19 No 1 La Damnation de Faust, Op 24 (Part 2) Waverley,
grande ouverture, Op 1 Les Troyens, Op 29 (Act 1, finale) Marche
funèbre pour la dernière scène d'Hamlet (Tristia, Op 18) La
Captive, Op 12 Harold en Italie, Op 16 (IV. Orgie des brigands)
Le carnaval romain, Op 9 Benvenuto Cellini, Op 23 (extracts)
Messe solennelle (Quoniam tu solus Sanctus) Épisode de la vie
d’un artiste – Grande Symphonie fantastique, arr. Franz Liszt Le
roi Lear, grande ouverture, Op 4 Les nuits d’été, Op 7 (Absence)
Romeo et Juliette, Op 17 (Part 3)
Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Barstow for BBC
Wales
For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Hector Berlioz
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000345c
And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z
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