With the Revolution and especially the Empire, France developed a strong sense of nationalism that inspired the symphonic and lyrical music of the entire 19th century. The considerable musical forces mobilized, the outdoor performances, and the increased presence of wind instruments created a new musical vision in France, epitomized by Berlioz in his audacity, scope, and excess. In an era where liberty became the driving force behind opera librettos, these new, patriotic, and heartfelt works touched an ever-widening audience, filling symphonic halls and opera houses. Pieces from the repertoire became public favorites and remain to this day the most faithful representations of their time. The choruses from Gounod’s Faust and Berlioz’s works continue to resonate with the “Immortal Glory” of our ancestors… and even more so in the Château de Versailles, dedicated by Louis Philippe “to all the Glories of France” in 1838. As an expert in the music of this period, Hervé Niquet could not have found better interpreters than the French Army Choir and the Republican Guard Orchestra, true musical emblems of the Nation!

La Marseillaise by Berlioz

Grand choruses from Faust, Carmen, and more…

Major French symphonic works of the 19th century