The Inspiration of Love: Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique
The story behind the creation of Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique is quite interesting. I found out that Berlioz was in love with a woman and that passion he felt drove him to write the music. In Kelly’s Five Nights, are documents relating to the premier of the Symphonie Fantastique.
According to a source from Le Temps written December 26th 1830, describes the premiere of Symphonie Fantastique. The premier started at 2 pm and playing other works as well. The author of this source wrote that Berlioz’s talent is fantastique and that Berlioz “aims for ferocity”. At the end of the premiere many people applauded and stomped their feet out of appreciation for the composer. One person who was in the audience was Harriet Smithson the girl that stole Berlioz’s heart and motivated Berlioz to create this composition.
I wanted to find out more about Berlioz and the Symphonie Fantastique. I came upon a source from November 4, 1881. This article was published in the New York Times and titled, “Musical and Dramatic. The Symphony Society.” The newspaper article wrote about a concert program and praised Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique.
“It is characteristic of its author, full of strong contrasts powerful, and marked by the highly imaginative genius if its composer.” (The New York Times, 1881)
The Symphonie Fantastique was set to play last on the program and why not save the best for last? Berlioz continues to receive praise for his composition even after death. I personally enjoyed this premiere because it was created from a spark of admiration of love. I am a romantic so to see that Berlioz created a master piece because of Harriet Smithson and then reconnected with her because of the music is inspiring and cathartic. I wonder if Berlioz imagined the 4th and 5th movement or if he indeed took opium and experienced these hallucinations. I guess we will never know…
Source: MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC: THE SYMPHONY SOCIETY — ProQuest (arizona.edu)