Berlioz innovated constantly, and a decade after his revolutionary Symphonie Fantastique, the Shakespeare enthusiast created in 1839 a Symphonie dramatique with soloists and choir, on the theme of Romeo and Juliet. It was one of his greatest successes, played all over Europe from Paris to St Petersburg. It began with a cheque for 20,000 francs, a token of admiration received from the great Paganini, who wrote: “Beethoven is dead, only Berlioz can revive him!” Hector was enthusiastic, chose the theme of the eternal lovers, and composed a work that was both lyrical and symphonic, “with an orchestra that represents an opera!” Methodically rehearsing each section of the orchestra and each musical part separately, he obtained an extraordinary result: “The whole orchestra and the choirs rose to their feet with cheers that shook the hall, while the audience applauded wildly!”

Dramatic symphony on a libretto by Emile Deschamps, first performed in Paris in 1839.

Concert in French with French and English surtitles