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Hector Berlioz

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Louis Hector Berlioz (11th December 1803–8th March 1869) was a French Romantic composer best known for the Symphonie fantastique, first performed in 1830, and for his Grande Messe des morts Requiem of 1837, with its tremendous resources that include four antiphonal brass choirs.

Berlioz was born in France at La Côte-Saint-André in the département of Isère, between Lyon and Grenoble. His father was a physician, and young Hector was sent to Paris to study medicine at the age of eighteen. Berlioz was horrified by the process of dissection, and, despite his father’s disapproval, he abandoned his career path in medicine to study music a year later. He then attended the Paris Conservatoire studying opera and composition.

He became identified early on with the French romantic movement. Among his friends were writers such as Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, and Honoré de Balzac. Later, Théophile Gautier wrote, “Hector Berlioz seems to me to form with Hugo and Delacroix, the Trinity of Romantic Art.”

Berlioz is said to have been innately romantic, experiencing emotions deeply from early childhood. This manifested itself in his weeping at passages of Virgil as a child, and later in a series of love affairs. At the age of 23, his unrequited (at first) love for the Irish Shakespearean actress Harriet Constance Smithson was the inspiration for his Symphonie fantastique. In 1830, the same year as the symphony’s premiere, Berlioz won the Prix de Rome.

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La Damnation de Faust
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Symphonie Fantastique op.14
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BERLIOZ: Overtures
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BERLIOZ: Requiem
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Top Tracks

1	Un Bal full track	406
2	Marche Hongroise	280
3	Reveries - Passions	260
4	Scene 9: Tambours et trompettes sonnant le ratraite	259
5	2. Un bal	250
6	Ballet des sylphes	235
7	Scene 2: Ronde des paysans: Les bergers quittent leurs troupeaux	186
8	Chanson de Brander: `Certain rat, dans une cuisine'	181
9	Scene 7: Air de Mephistopheles: `Voici des roses'	172
10	Marche Au Supplice	154
11	Rakoczy March full track	107
12	Symphonie Fantastique - March to the Scaffold	74
13	Symphony Fantastique full track	72
14	Epilogue sur la terre: `Alors l'enfer se tut'	69
15	X. Agnus Dei full track	64

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TheTrueSeker wrote:
last week

Seconding the praise for his overtures.

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MaidenSlayer wrote:
last week

@ankurtg wow, gb2 your Rick Astley and Over 900 Anon musik. Someone's obviously covering his stuff and touring. Ever hear of 21st century orchestras? You might as well use the same logic, and say 'how did they record the musik'

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ImmortalPride wrote:
last month

The Berlioz Overtures are very good and Damnation of Faust is mighty powerful.

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PFGrifter wrote:
last month

symphonie fantastique

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Nilson_Neto wrote:
last month

Lol. He's on tour!! hahahaha

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thenktor wrote:
October 2009

Picard's favourite :-D

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hinchu wrote:
September 2009

Hair like that makes for amazing music!

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LittleChandler wrote:
July 2009

Opium

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Barteq993 wrote:
June 2009

Could you tell me please, what is name of the Beliozo's song from "Sleeping with the Enemy"? It's important for me. Thanks for all=)

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CavelleLouise wrote:
May 2009

played March to the Scaffold at school - awe inpsiring

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altered_vlad wrote:
April 2009

@ankurtg: never heard of zombies?

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rasmus1337 wrote:
March 2009

heared the symphonie fantastique yesterday. didnt know that juelz santana made a beat with a part of it :)

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JemLaMusic wrote:
March 2009

Berlioz raconté aux enfants ! Album paru dans la collection "Le Petit Ménestrel". Plus d'info sur http://www.lepetitmenestrel.com

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LongLiveTheD wrote:
March 2009

funky hair

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JPolito wrote:
March 2009

Les Troyens - Vallon Sonore. That is all.

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daweedospina wrote:
February 2009

hello, i invite everyone to download my new album for free at: www.myspace.com/davidospinamusic or check it out on: http://www.lastfm.es/music/David+Ospina hugs from colombia!

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didyouknow_him wrote:
February 2009

Symphonie Fantastisque Op. 14. V. <3

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werkan wrote:
February 2009

Lovely chap.

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phantompabulum wrote:
February 2009

Group for Camille Saint-Saëns exists

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ankurtg wrote:
January 2009

How, may I ask, is Hector Berlioz "ON TOUR"?

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Jan 27 Najaarsconcert USConcert Geertekerk, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Jan 28 Najaarsconcert USConcert Geertekerk, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Jan 29 Najaarsconcert USConcert Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Recent Activity

netudiant, KnightRythym and 2112Syrinx added Hector Berlioz to their libraries. 2 hours ago
bellacanto tagged Hector Berlioz with ‘french’. Friday afternoon
bellacanto and crossdressinate added Hector Berlioz to their libraries. Friday afternoon
linandara tagged Hector Berlioz with ‘romantics’. Friday morning
MaidenSlayer connected Hector Berlioz to the group 16th - 21st Century Classical Music. Friday morning
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La-Roux- wrote about Hector Berlioz in La Roux In For The Kill. Wednesday morning
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der_kleene tagged Hector Berlioz with ‘classical’. Monday afternoon
OrangePandha and Arturobal added Hector Berlioz to their libraries. Monday morning