Composer

Some of history’s most profound musical masterpieces have been inspired by a hero’s journey from light to darkness, love and loss, with it encompassing all of life’s beauty and horror. These themes play out in magnificent form in Berlioz’s monumental “Symphonie Fantastique” and Grieg’s enchanting Piano Concerto. Buckle your seat belts, these stories are truly epic!

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Fantastique

Barnstable High School

Symphonie Fantastique

Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences

Make sure to mark your calendar for the Central Ohio Symphony's November concert! You won't want to miss Caroline Scruggs's amazing world premier performance on the theremin. Her exceptional skills on this unique instrument impressed our audience in the summer of 2022 and gained over 2 million views on Instagram! She will be performing an extended version of the original concerto by Linda Kernohan. The program will also feature Berlioz's thrilling Carnival Overture, Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, and his dramatic depiction of the sea, La Mer.

The French Perspective

Ohio Wesleyan University

Composed at the end of the First World War, premiered in 1919, Elgar's Cello Concerto carries within it the horror and anger of the conflict, its sadness and its fragility, in noble and heartbreaking music written during the last months of the conflict. The composer makes his rebellious cry heard through the low notes and the expressive power of the cello, without realizing that he is giving life to one of the most beautiful concertos ever written for this instrument. When an inaccessible Irish actress becomes the object of all a composer's fantasies, it inspires the most extravagant symphony in the history of music! With his Fantastique (1830), Berlioz launched himself into the arena of Romanticism: his passion for Harriet Smithson turned into psychedelic delirium, that of a young artist under the influence of opium. After their triumph at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the OPRL and Gergely Madaras return to this musical, cinematic narration before its time, which presents us in turn with a scene at the ball, a reverie in the fields, a march to torture or an orgy funeral to the sound of Dies irae .

Fantastic Symphony

Grand Manège - Namur Concert Hall

Philharmonic Hall of Liege

Cultuurhuis De Warande

The high-flying American mezzo and British pianist borrow Mozart (or Sondheim’s) title for their programme of nocturnal music, including Jake Heggie’s 1998 cycle setting texts by the American Vachel Lindsay (1879-1952), whose verses were meant to be sung or chanted.

Angela Brower mezzo-soprano; James Baillieu piano

Wigmore Hall

The KSO celebrates the Mexican festival Day of the Dead. Audience/musician face-painting, masks, candles and a large public ofrenda add to the atmospheric, ominous opuses the KSO will perform a frightfully fun evening of classics, premieres and Hispanic favorites and culture.

Sinister Sonorities

Greaves Concert Hall

Symphonie Fantastique!

Butler Intermediate High School

When the young Berlioz set his love life to music he didn’t hold back, and his explosive Symphonie Fantastique can still set your head spinning. It’s a roof-raising climax to a concert that begins with a musical tour of modern Wales – from John Hardy’s atmospheric landscapes to a spirited concerto by the one and only Sir Karl Jenkins.

Royal Welsh College Symphony Orchestra: Fantastique

Bute Park

Halloween Spooktacular —“Side-By-Side” with the Danville High School Orchestra

Danville High School

Join us on Sunday, October 20, 2024, for an unforgettable musical journey with the Pacific Symphony's performance of Hector Berlioz's "Fantastic Symphony" at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. This extraordinary concert, starting at 3:00 pm, promises to be a symphonic rollercoaster, taking you through the opium-dazed dreams of a lovesick composer who imagines himself at his own funeral and a witches’ sabbath party, among other wild fantasies.

Under the baton of esteemed Music Director Carl St.Clair, experience a performance filled with lovesick melodies, dramatic narratives, and an intensity that will have you on the edge of your seat. Before the symphony begins, Carl St.Clair will provide insightful commentary, guiding you through the complexities and emotional depths of Berlioz's masterpiece.

This performance, featuring the talented musicians of the Pacific Symphony, will be presented without intermission, ensuring a continuous and immersive experience. Don't miss this opportunity to witness one of the most innovative and thrilling pieces of the classical repertoire, brought to life by one of the premier symphony orchestras in the country.

For tickets and more information, visit the Pacific Symphony's website. Join us for an evening of breathtaking music and dramatic storytelling that promises to be anything but ordinary.

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

A Memo from the Maestro: We're off to Paris, and the Romantic Age, for our debut concert of the season at the Viterbo Fine Arts Center.  Following the LSO's knockout performance of the Hector Berlioz Symphonie fantastique, we celebrate his next great work from the 1830s, his passionate rendering of Shakespeare's timeless tale.  Back from her cancelled engagement due to COVID, American pianist Lucille Chung finally makes her debut with our Symphony in the famously intense concerto from the man most famous for The Carnival of the Animals.  The evening concludes with another knockout, the legendary Overture to Richard Wagner's early opera RIENZI, which took Paris by storm in 1869.

Romeo and Juliet

Viterbo University Fine Arts Center

Kacper Nowak is a well-established and internationally renowned Polish concert cellist based in Brussels. He has been described as “a very fine gifted cellist with exceptional technical attributes and a very natural and unmannered approach to music.” Kacper has won many awards at international competitions, such as the Johannes Brahms Competition in Austria, the International Madrid Competition, the International Music Competition in Vienna, the Liezen Cello Wettbewerb, the Edmond Baert International Cello Competition in Brussels and Nordic Strings in Denmark. He has performed in the most renowned concert halls in Europe and around the world.

Isca Ensemble South West Autumn Concert

Exeter Cathedral

### Event Description: Visions - The Madison Symphony Orchestra

#### Event Overview:
Join the Madison Symphony Orchestra for an evocative musical journey in their concert series titled "Visions," taking place from October 18 to October 20, 2024, at the Overture Hall. This concert promises to explore the relationship between the human and the supernatural through a carefully curated selection of compositions.

#### Event Details:
- **Dates and Times:**
  - **Friday, October 18, 2024:** 7:30 p.m.
  - **Saturday, October 19, 2024:** 7:30 p.m.
  - **Sunday, October 20, 2024:** 2:30 p.m.
- **Venue:** Overture Hall, Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State Street, Madison, WI 53703, United States
- **Ticket Prices:** $15 - $104

#### Featured Artists:
- **Guest Conductor:** Nicholas Hersh
- **Violinist:** Kelly Hall-Tompkins

#### Program Highlights:
1. **Anna Clyne - This Midnight Hour:** A piece based on poetry by Charles Baudelaire and Juan Ramón Jiménez, making its MSO premiere.
2. **Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending:** A gentle and evocative piece inspired by a poem by George Meredith, performed by Kelly Hall-Tompkins.
3. **Maurice Ravel - Tzigane:** A virtuosic take on Roma fiddling, showcasing the technical prowess of Kelly Hall-Tompkins.
4. **Hector Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14:** A monumental and passionate musical vision that concludes the program.

#### Additional Information:
- **Health & Safety:** The event will adhere to the latest health and safety guidelines to ensure a safe experience for all attendees.
- **Sponsors:** The event is supported by Marvin J. Levy, Peter and Leslie Overton, Kay Schwichtenberg and Herman Baumann, with additional funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

#### Artist Biographies:
- **Nicholas Hersh:** An acclaimed American conductor known for his innovative programming and ability to connect with both musicians and audiences. Hersh has conducted numerous prestigious orchestras and is recognized for his commitment to performing works by composers of color.
- **Kelly Hall-Tompkins:** A versatile violinist celebrated for her tonal mastery and technical command. Hall-Tompkins has performed as a soloist with various orchestras and is known for her groundbreaking recording projects and humanitarian efforts through her initiative, Music Kitchen-Food for the Soul.
- **Anna Clyne:** A GRAMMY-nominated composer known for her collaborations across various artistic disciplines. Clyne's works are frequently performed by leading orchestras and have been choreographed for dance and visual art projects.

#### How to Attend:
- **Buy Tickets:** Tickets are available for purchase online. Prices range from $15 to $104.
- **Subscribe:** Learn more about subscription options to enjoy the full season of Madison Symphony Orchestra concerts.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Madison Symphony Orchestra's official website. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a night of extraordinary music that bridges the human and the supernatural.

Visions

Overture Center for the Arts

Featuring works by Ravel and Villa-Lobos.

Voice, Flute, and Guitar

St. Matthew's Parish School

Family Halloween Costume Party

Ames Center

Prepare for a night of enchanting music as the Glacier Symphony presents a lineup of truly magical compositions. The concert begins with Berlioz's captivating Symphonie Fantastique, followed by Dukas' beloved Sorcerer's Apprentice, famously featured in Walt Disney's Fantasia. Cuban-American cellist, Tommy Mesa, will perform with the Glacier Symphony Orchestra to deliver this night of magic. His talents will particularly shine when performing the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor. Each of these pieces from France are recognized as revolutionary for their originality, innovative storytelling, and extraordinary sounds.

Symphonie Fantastique with Tommy Mesa

Flathead Valley Community College

Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique is widely regarded as the first important symphonic poem, complete with shepherd’s pipes, a dance, a “March to the Scaffold,” a beheading, a “Witches’ Sabbath,” and more for sharp-eared listeners. FWSO Music Director Robert Spano serves as guide on this exploration of Berlioz’s psyche, which follows Debussy’s hazy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Schumann’s Cello Concerto with FWSO Principal Cellist Allan Steele.

The Fwso’s Allan Steele: Schumann Cello Concerto and Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique

Sundance Square

BSO Assistant Conductor Samy Rachid makes his BSO subscription debut in a program featuring the glorious Symphony Hall organ. Olivier Latry, organist at Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral, premiered Michael Gandolfi’s Ascending Light here in 2015. The BSO-commissioned work was composed as tribute to Armenian culture on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Camille Saint-Saëns’s Third Symphony features the organ prominently in its majestic finale. Hector Berlioz’s Waverley Overture evokes the romance and intrigue of Sir Walter Scott’s historical novels.

Samy Rachid conducts Berlioz, Gandolfi, and Saint-Saëns with Olivier Latry, organ

Boston Symphony Orchestra

In 1827, Berlioz saw an English theater troupe perform works by Shakespeare, and he fell head over heels in love with Harriet Smithson, who played both Juliet and Ophelia. Ears of love, he begins his Symphonie Fantastique, which shows Berlioz's brilliant instrumentation, but even more epoch-making is his method of creating a whole between the five movements. The theme of the chosen one runs like a common thread throughout the work, and Berlioz really challenges the orchestra in this revolutionary work. In 1830 Harriet experienced the work, and three years later she and Berlioz were married.

A journey of love with Weilerstein

Aalborg Central Waterfront

The Kaleidoscope season opens with colorful and imaginative music. Hannah Applequist will command the spotlight in Paul Dooley’s new percussion concerto, The Soaring Souls, an energetic yet lyrical composition inspired by the tragic love story of Francesca da Rimini. The adventure continues with Symphonie Fantastique, a highly evocative and expressive work full of fantastical imagery, written by Berlioz in response tohis own experiences of heartbreak and unrequited love. Prepare to be transported to a world of passion, drama and excitement with this unforgettable concert!

Salina Symphony Presents Fantastique

Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts

The Kaleidoscope mainstage season opens with colorful and imaginative music. Hannah Applequist will command the spotlight in Paul Dooley’s new percussion concerto, The Soaring Souls, an energetic yet lyrical composition inspired by the tragic love story of Francesca da Rimini. The adventure continues with Symphonie Fantastique, a highly evocative and expressive work full of fantastical imagery, written by Berlioz in response to his own experiences of heartbreak and unrequited love. Prepare to be transported to a world of passion, drama and excitement with this unforgettable concert!

Join your Macomb Symphony and Music Director Andrew Neer as we kick off our 50th season in style!!

This concert is all about Folklore and celebratory tales.

Macomb Symphony Orchestra

Macomb Center for the Performing Arts

Witness the magic of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in c minor, Op. 37 brilliantly interpreted by the sensational Kenny Broberg on the piano. Feel the raw emotion and depth of Beethoven’s pianistic masterpiece as Broberg’s fingers dance across the keys, transporting you to a world of passion and fantasy.

Season Opener: Beethoven & Berlioz

Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations

The UMD Symphony Orchestra opens its 2024-25 season with William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1, “Afro-American,” the first symphony composed by an African American to be performed by a major orchestra when it premiered in 1931. This remarkable piece is a love letter to blues and Black culture, showcasing Still’s vision to elevate the blues, which he felt was often considered a "lowly" expression, to the highest musical level. By masterfully integrating blues progressions and rhythms with traditional symphonic forms, Still created a symphony that resonates with profound emotion and cultural significance.

Still's Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American": UMD Symphony Orchestra

University of Maryland

Online

A demanding showpiece for the violin, Carmen Fantasy will allure you as Rachel Barton Pine dazzles with her technique, lustrous tone and emotional honesty.  Berlioz invites you into the altered mind stemmed from an unrequited love.

Symphonie fantastique

Washington Pavilion

They are best enemies. Beatrice and Benedict love to quarrel, spar, needle and sling insults.

A marriage is inevitable. Based on Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

Beatrice & Benedict

National Concert Hall

Music Director Stéphane Denève opens the season with the dreams and passions of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, a work that tells the story of Berlioz’s obsession. Composer Mason Bates' new violin concerto, influenced by folk dances of Eastern Europe, is brought to energetic life by soloist Gil Shaham.

Enterprise Center

Celebrate the 134th season of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with megastar pianist Lang Lang in a marvelous, one-night-only performance, complete with a red-carpet experience. The evening features Saint-Saëns’ exhilarating Second Piano Concerto, which begins with echoes of Bach and ends with a tarantella, a wild Italian folk dance. Kaleidoscopic works by Berlioz and Stravinsky frame the program.

Lang Lang & The Firebird

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

This event sees the launch of Goethe: His Faustian Life (Bloomsbury Continuum), the new book by a leading literary figure of our time whose wide range has already taken in studies of Milton, Tolstoy, Dickens, CS Lewis and Iris Murdoch. A.N. Wilson now turns his attention to one of the giants of German literature and to what is surely Goethe’s greatest and most influential creation – known to music lovers from the innumerable song settings, operas, choral works and programmatic pieces it has inspired.

Goethe: His Faustian Life

Schumann’s Piano Concerto performed by the celebrated Daniil Trifonov and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique are on the programme of this concert conducted by Rafael Payare.

Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique

Place des Arts

The First Piano Concerto was written when Rachmaninoff was just 18 years old and studying at the Moscow Conservatory. He revised the work 26 years later as a much more experienced, and ever self-critical, composer, but it nevertheless retains its original youthful freshness and bold ambition.

London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano

Barbican Centre

Immerse yourself in an evening of effervescent, sumptuous, and dramatic music as the London Symphony Orchestra presents "Rachmaninoff and Saint-Saëns 'Organ' Symphony" at the Barbican. This captivating concert, taking place on Sunday, 15 September 2024 at 7pm, features the exceptional talents of Sir Antonio Pappano as conductor, with Yuja Wang on piano and Anna Lapwood on organ.

The evening's program begins with Hector Berlioz's "Roman Carnival," a vibrant piece lasting 8 minutes, setting the stage for the night's exhilarating performances. Following this, Serge Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No 1," a work of youthful exuberance and bold ambition, showcases Yuja Wang's technical brilliance over 26 minutes. After an interval, the concert culminates with Camille Saint-Saëns' "Symphony No 3, Organ Symphony," a 35-minute masterpiece that promises to leave the audience spellbound, featuring Anna Lapwood's customary flair on the organ.

The concert is set to conclude at approximately 8:40 pm, including a 20-minute interval. Tickets are available in a range of prices to suit all budgets, with a £4 booking fee per online or phone transaction. Additionally, attendees can save on their booking with various discounts, including Wildcards for guaranteed entry, Multibuy Discounts, and special rates for groups, students, and 18s-and-under.

This event not only offers a night of unforgettable music but also a pre-concert performance by LSO Create musicians in the Barbican Foyers, generously supported by The Huo Family Foundation. Please note that due to a change of program at the request of the soloist, Rachmaninoff’s "Piano Concerto No 1" will replace "Piano Concerto No 4" for this performance.

Join us for a mesmerizing evening that celebrates the power of music to evoke deep emotions and create lasting memories. Book your tickets now for "Rachmaninoff and Saint-Saëns 'Organ' Symphony" and experience the magic of the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano, with the extraordinary Yuja Wang and Anna Lapwood.

Rachmaninoff and Saint-Saëns 'Organ' Symphony

Join us for an enchanting evening with the Spartanburg Philharmonic as we present "Symphonie Fantastique" on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Twichell Auditorium, located at 580 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC, 29302. This remarkable concert marks the beginning of our 96th Season, promising an unforgettable journey through musical fantasy.

The night features the extraordinary talents of pianist Terrence Wilson, who will lead us through a program that bridges contemporary compositions with classical masterpieces. The evening will open with a contemporary piece by Reena Esmail, followed by Rachmaninoff's stirring "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini." The grand finale will be Hector Berlioz's mesmerizing "Symphonie Fantastique," a piece that promises to captivate and inspire.

Under the baton of conductor John Young Shik Concklin, the program includes:
- Reena Esmail, "REMember" (7')
- Rachmaninoff, "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" (22')
- Hector Berlioz, "Symphonie Fantastique" (49')

This concert is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a world where contemporary meets fantasy, showcasing the brilliance of Terrence Wilson alongside the Spartanburg Philharmonic's exceptional musicianship.

Single tickets will be on sale this summer, with an option to subscribe to the full season and save 10% off single ticket prices and service fees. Don't miss this chance to be part of a magical night that sets the tone for an exciting season ahead.

Converse University

Carl St.Clair, principal conductor of the USC Thornton Orchestra Program, leads the USC Thornton Symphony in the opening concert of the Fall 2024 semester, including breathe/burn: an elegy by Joel Thompson, Deux Melodies Hebraiques: Kaddish by Maurice Ravel (arr. Richard Tognetti), and Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 by Hector Berlioz.

USC Thornton Symphony

Bovard Auditorium (ADM)

Igor Levit is the soloist in Robert Schumann’s most famous piece and one of the 19th century’s most popular solo concertos: Piano Concerto in A minor. Elim Chan also conducts music by Hector Berlioz, Noriko Koide, and Maurice Ravel.

Elim Chan Igor Levit

Oslo Concert Hall

Tchaikovsky, one of Russia’s greatest musical geniuses, was prone to bouts of self-doubt and reflection, but with his sixth and final symphony he knew he had a masterpiece on his hands. The “Pathétique” (“Passionate Symphony”) is an abstract exploration of the depth of human feeling and the centerpiece of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s celebratory opening weekend with Music Director Robert Spano and star violinist James Ehnes performing Sibelius’ glacial Violin Concerto with its “polonaise for polar bears” and Berlioz’s swashbuckling Roman Carnival Overture.

Opening Weekend: Tchaikovsky’s Sixth and Sibelius’ Violin Concerto

Few orchestras know Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique better than the Orchestre de Paris, which performed the work at its very first concert in 1967 and has done so at every significant milestone in its history ever since.

Here France’s most illustrious orchestra visits the Proms with its renowned Chief Conductor Klaus Mäkelä for a mouth-watering programme that indulges all the beauty, delicacy and emotion of French music while marking another of the most thrilling scores ever to have come out of Paris: Stravinsky’s tuneful and mischievous puppet-show ballet, Petrushka.

Prom 58: Mäkelä conducts Symphonie fantastique

Royal Albert Hall

Join the London Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable evening at the Festival Berlioz, set against the historic backdrop of the Cour du château Louis XI in La Côte-Saint-André. This spectacular event takes place on Sunday, 1st September 2024, at 9pm, promising a night filled with the majestic sounds of classical music under the stars.

The concert features a stellar lineup of compositions by three iconic figures of the 20th century: Hector Berlioz's "Roman Carnival," Richard Strauss's "Burleske," and Gustav Holst's "The Planets Suite." Under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano, with the virtuosic Bertrand Chamayou on piano, the London Symphony Orchestra will bring these masterpieces to life. The performance will be further enriched by the harmonious voices of the Kaunas State Choir, adding an extra layer of depth and emotion to the evening.

This event marks the closing of the Berlioz Festival, a celebration of music and artistry. Sir Antonio Pappano and the LSO, along with Bertrand Chamayou and the Kaunas State Choir, promise a radiant finale to the festival, showcasing unforgettable pieces that have shaped the course of classical music.

Tickets for this must-see event are available from the Festival Berlioz. Don't miss your chance to experience the London Symphony Orchestra as they close the Berlioz Festival with a performance that promises to be as memorable as it is mesmerizing.

On Tour in La Côte-Saint-André

Château Louis XI

Join the London Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable evening at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival in Switzerland. This special concert, taking place on Saturday, 31 August 2024 at 7:30 pm in the Gstaad Festival Tent, promises to be a radiant finale to the festival. Under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano and featuring the talented pianist Bertrand Chamayou, along with the Kaunas State Choir, the orchestra will perform a selection of captivating works. The program includes Hector Berlioz's Overture: Benvenuto Cellini, Richard Strauss's Burleske, and Gustav Holst's The Planets Suite. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the London Symphony Orchestra as they close the Gstaad Menuhin Festival with a spectacular performance. Tickets are available from the Gstaad Menuhin Festival.

On Tour in Gstaad

Festival-Zelt Gstaad

Program Eleven • Faust and the Spirit of the 19th Century

Fisher Center at Bard

The 75th anniversary season comes to an overpowering conclusion with one of the most spectacular and moving acts in all of opera, the finale of Wagner’s Die Walküre. You’ll immediately recognize the iconic Ride of the Valkyries which opens the act. The eight Valkyries are the products of the god Wotan’s affair with the earth’s wisdom goddess Erda. Their job is to carry slain heroes to the afterlife in Valhalla on their flying horses. At the beginning of the act, Wotan’s favorite daughter Brünnhilde is missing. She finally appears, but not with a fallen warrior. Instead, it’s Sieglinde, whom Wotan had fathered with a wolf along with her twin brother Siegmund. The twins committed incest back in Act One, and now Sieglinde is pregnant with the future hero Siegfried. Wotan’s wife Fricka, goddess of marriage, didn’t approve of the situation, and pressured Wotan to arrange for Siegmund to die in Act Two. Brünnhilde tried to intervene to save Siegmund, enraging Wotan. To punish her defiance, Wotan strips Brünnhilde of her godhood and plans to put her into a magical sleep to be available to the first man who finds her. Horrified by this prospect, Brünnhilde convinces Wotan to surround her by fire so that only a brave hero can awaken her.

Festival Orchestra: Spano Conducts Wagner, Ohlsson Plays Liszt

Michael Klein Music Tent

Works by Felix Mendelssohn (1809–47); Robert Schumann (1810–56); Franz Liszt (1811–86); Ferdinand Hiller (1811–85); Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829–69)

Program Eight • Literary Romanticisms

Program Nine • An Evening with the Orchestra

Works by Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840); Fromental Halévy (1799–1862); Adolphe Adam (1803–56); Johann Strauss Sr. (1804–49); Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst (1812–65); and others

Program Seven • Berlioz: The Composer as Writer

The organ at the Church of the Messiah was installed in 1923 by the celebrated E.M. Skinner Company of Boston. The company, which had a reputation for creating instruments of superb quality and great tonal beauty, built organs for prominent churches and universities, including both the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine and St. Thomas Church in New York. A gift to the parish by Captain Vincent Astor, the organ has just returned to the church following a major reconditioning by Quimby Pipe Organs of Warrensburg, Missouri.

Program Six • Sacred Music in France

Church of the Messiah Epscpl

Songs and arias by Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791–1864); Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868); Franz Liszt (1811–86); Richard Wagner (1813–83); Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921); Georges Bizet (1838–75); Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924); and others

Program Four • Chansons, romances, et mélodies: Vocal Music from Cosmopolitan Paris

Works by Louise Farrenc (1804–75); Luise Bertin (1805–77); Marie de Grandval (1828–1907); and others

Program Five • Women in Berlioz’s Circle

Program Two • Anxieties of Influence: Models, Teachers, and Classmates

Program Three • The Sounds of a Nation: Patriotism and Antiquity

Experience a kaleidoscope of dreams, visions, and euphoria as Symphonie fantastique takes you on a journey through the vivid imagination of Hector Berlioz. A stunning musical self-portrait and epic orchestral tour de force.

We open with Mendelssohn's overture, The Hebrides. Ride the waves of the Atlantic in this dark and brooding work, as Mendelssohn's music envelops you in the might of mother nature. Perth saxophonist Matthew Styles takes centre stage as he premieres Holly Harrison’s new Saxophone Concerto.

Perth Concert Hall

Program One • Staging the Musical Imagination

Exciting young Metropolitan Opera soprano Erika Baikoff returns to Music@Menlo to explore the broad, colorful art of French songs. Programmed in partnership with renowned pianist and vocal coach Ken Noda, the music of eleven different composers creates an entrancing immersion into some of chamber music’s most exquisite repertoire.

Carte Blanche Concert Iii Erika Baikoff, Soprano; Ken Noda, Piano

Menlo School Campus

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music with the London Symphony Orchestra featuring the world-renowned talents of Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Joyce DiDonato. This spectacular concert will take place at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden on Tuesday, 16 July 2024, at 7pm.

Under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, chief conductor of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, and the mesmerizing voice of Joyce DiDonato, often referred to as the "Yankee Diva," the evening promises to be a profound musical journey. The program includes Hector Berlioz's "Les Nuits d’été Op 7," a composition that evokes the serene beauty of a graveyard bathed in moonlight, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No 6 in B-minor Op 74, Pathétique," which celebrates the vibrant energy of street parades illuminated by gas lamps in a grand city.

Tickets for this enchanting evening are available from Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, with a total of 37,175 tickets up for grabs. Don't miss your chance to experience the night in all its glory, brought to life by the exceptional performances of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Joyce DiDonato, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin & Joyce DiDonato

Festspielhaus Baden-Baden

Experience a unique fusion of traditional brass music and symphonic grandeur at the "Symphonischer Hoagascht" concert, where Blasmusik meets the esteemed Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (BRSO). This special concert is scheduled for Sunday, 7th July 2024, at 5:00 pm, taking place in the vibrant city of Munich at the Showpalast Munich.

The evening promises an unforgettable musical journey, starting with Percy Aldridge Grainger's "Lincolnshire Posy," followed by Lorenz Dangel's "PHON," a piece commissioned by the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and set to have its world premiere at this event. After an interval, the concert will continue with Hector Berlioz's "Grande symphonie funèbre et triomphale, op. 15," Timo Dellweg's "Kaiserin Sissi," and Martin Scharnagl's "Euphoria."

Under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle, the concert will feature performances by Luise Kinseher, Dominik Glöbl, and various brass ensembles including Ulrichsbläser Büchlberg, Jugendblasorchester Marktoberdorf e.V., Blaskapelle Möckenlohe, and Brass Band Unterallgäu, alongside the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.

Ticket presales begin on 23rd April 2024, with prices set at 25, 15, and 10 euros. Don't miss this special concert that blends the rich traditions of brass music with the symphonic excellence of the BRSO for an evening of musical euphoria.

Symphonischer Hoagascht

Showpalast Munich

Mind-bending and transcendent, our season finale carries us off on a luxurious magic carpet of sounds, and some of the greatest showmen in music, with Richard Wagner. The mythical other worlds he created have inspired countless film scores and fantasy novels. Wagner’s orchestral songs are a rare chance to hear him in miniature. French composer Messiaen beams down a smile on a world of spiritual glory. It’s a place which vibrates with rainbow colours and mystery. The calm before the storm of Berlioz’s Fantastic Symphony, music which does more than it says on the tin. Come and hear the BBC Philharmonic in glorious technicolour as we whip up dreams, passions, and devilish visions from Berlioz‘s intoxicating Romantic stupor. A thrilling end to our concert season.

Ending on a High

The Bridgewater Hall

Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Berlioz's "Grande Messe des Morts" with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) under the baton of Music Director Thomas Søndergård. This monumental concert event promises to be one of Scotland's musical highlights of the year, featuring a colossal ensemble that includes a gigantic orchestra, a mighty chorus, four brass bands, and a team of opera singers. 

Join us for two unforgettable evenings of awe-inspiring music. The first performance will take place at Usher Hall, Edinburgh, on Friday, 14 June 2024, at 7:30 pm, followed by a second performance at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, on Saturday, 15 June 2024, at 7:30 pm. 

The concert will showcase the talents of tenor Magnus Walker and the RSNO Chorus, directed by Stephen Doughty, alongside the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Voices and Musicians. 

Before the concert, attendees will have the opportunity to gain deeper insights into the music with a pre-concert talk by RSNO Chorus Director Stephen Doughty, free to ticket holders. This talk will take place at 6:45 pm in the Upper Circle Bar in Edinburgh and the Clyde Foyer in Glasgow.

Tickets are available for purchase, with discounts available for under 18s, under 26s, mature students, unemployed patrons, and patrons with disabilities. Don't miss this grand event that promises to be a highlight of Scotland's musical calendar.

Berlioz Grande Messe

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Usher Hall

A magnificent exhibition of sound, sight, and spirit—the Grande Messe des Morts of Hector Berlioz stretches emotion and passion to extremes. This larger-than-life experience is an overwhelming realization of the hallowed liturgical Requiem text. The world-famous Meyerson Symphony Center is the perfect setting for this spectacle.

Highland Park Presbyterian Church Presents Berlioz Requiem

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

A magnificent exhibition of sound, sight, and spirit—the Grande Messe des Morts of Hector Berlioz stretches emotion and passion to extremes. This larger-than-life experience is an overwhelming realization of the hallowed liturgical Requiem text.

Highlander Concert: Season Finale

Following her Royal Opera House debut in Andrea Chénier conducted by Antonio Pappano, mezzo-soprano Katia Ledoux joins pianist Anna Tilbrook for a recital presented by Opera Rara and the Temple Music Foundation. Taking place within the Inner Temple Parliament Chamber, the programme centres on the Parisian salons of the 19th century. Featuring newly-restored, rarely – if ever – performed songs by Donizetti from his years in Paris, the programme is completed with selections by Donizetti’s contemporaries. Including several songs composed by women, Ledoux and Tilbrook recreate the experience of a musical soirée.

Katia Ledoux and Anna Tilbrook Salon Concert

Temple Church

Eternal Love Eternal Harmonies

Henry W. Coil Sr. and Alice Edna Coil School for the Arts

Join Music Director Courtney Lewis and the Symphony in closing this blockbuster season with one of Jacksonville’s favorites: Berlioz’s wildly imaginative Fantastic Symphony. A bedrock of the Romantic Era, this saga uses music to paint a love-stricken artist’s journey from a serene countryside to a whirling dervish conclusion. The program opens with another storytelling work: gripping orchestral music from Thomas Adès’ masterpiece opera, The Exterminating Angel.

Jacoby Symphony Hall

Join us for an enchanting evening of vocal performance as Emma Rothfield, a talented soprano from the Northwestern Bienen School of Music, presents her recital. This event is part of her Master of Music degree requirements, under the guidance of esteemed faculty member W. Stephen Smith. Accompanying Emma on the piano will be Charles Foster, enhancing the evening with their collaborative artistry.

The recital is scheduled for Friday, June 7, 2024, at 6:00pm CDT, in the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall. This venue, known for its breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, promises an unforgettable backdrop for the performance. The hall's acoustics, enhanced by its unique architectural design, will ensure that every note is heard in pristine clarity.

Emma's program includes a diverse selection of works, showcasing her versatile vocal range and emotional depth. The audience will be treated to Hector Berlioz's "La mort de Cléopâtre," a dramatic exploration of Cleopatra's final moments. Contemporary flair will be added with Kathleen Tagg's "This Be Her Verse," and the duet from Giacomo Puccini's "La bohème" will bring a touch of classic opera romance. For a lighter note, Mel Brooks' "I’m Tired" from "Blazing Saddles" will provide a humorous twist.

Admission to this event is free, and tickets are not required. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream will be available, ensuring that no one misses out on this captivating performance.

Don't miss this opportunity to support emerging talent and experience the power of live vocal performance in one of the most beautiful recital halls in the country.

Emma Rothfield, soprano

Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

Come and immerse yourself in the BRIGHT and lively atmosphere of the DUO theme, designed especially for you, our guests in search of daring experiences. As soon as you arrive, the red carpet and champagne await you. Then let yourself be transported by a unique symphony concert where music and movement merge in perfect harmony.

Bal d’une nuit d’été ÉCLATÉ – DUO 

Join the Pacific Symphony in a remarkable musical journey as they perform side-by-side with the talented members of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. This extraordinary concert, under the guidance of Maestro Carl St.Clair, promises an evening of musical exploration through the realms of sublimity and abandon. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at the prestigious Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, beginning at 7:00 pm.

This unique collaboration will feature a program that includes Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Russian Easter Overture" and movements 4 & 5 of Hector Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique," promising an unforgettable experience without intermission. Admission to this special concert is free, although tickets are required and seating is on a general admission basis.

The Pacific Symphony extends its deepest appreciation to Hans and Valerie Imhof, S.L. and Betty Huang, Patrick Chen, and Elaine Sarkaria for their generous support, which is vital for the success and growth of the PSYE organization and the nurturing of young talent.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness the synergy between the Pacific Symphony and its Youth Orchestra, showcasing the future of classical music under the baton of Carl St.Clair. Reserve your tickets now for an evening of exceptional music and support the development of young musicians in our community.

PSYO Side-by-Side with Pacific Symphony

Join us for an enchanting evening of vocal performance as Karl Boatright, a talented bass-baritone from the Northwestern Bienen School of Music, takes the stage. This recital is part of his Bachelor of Music program under the guidance of Karen Brunssen, with Teresa Kang accompanying on piano. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 6:00pm CDT, in the Regenstein Master Class Room.

The program promises a rich selection of pieces spanning various composers and styles, including Johannes Brahms' "Denn es gehet dem Menschen" from Vier ernste Gesänge, Op. 121, selections from Robert Schumann's Liederkreis, Op. 39, and Franz Schubert's "Die Forelle" (The Trout), Op. 32, D. 550. The evening will also feature works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Michael Head, Aaron Copland, Antonín Dvořák, and an arrangement by H. T. Burleigh of "Deep River". Opera enthusiasts will appreciate selections from Giacomo Puccini's La bohème, Hector Berlioz's La damnation de Faust, W. A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, and more.

This event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. It's a wonderful opportunity to experience the vocal talents nurtured at the Bienen School of Music, set in the intimate and acoustically superb Regenstein Master Class Room. Located at 60 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, the venue is a cornerstone for musical arts within the Northwestern community, hosting hundreds of performances each year.

Don't miss this showcase of classical and operatic pieces performed by one of the school's rising stars.

Karl Boatright, bass-baritone

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

For The Symphony’s grand finale on May 19, international opera star Ana María Martínez opens the program with Berlioz’ song series, Les nuits d’été. We conclude with Beethoven’s greatest and final symphony—the Ninth, showcasing the full Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, plus four rising stars from the Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Program: Teresa Perrotta, Soprano; Katherine DeYoung, Mezzo-Soprano; Anthony Leon, Tenor; and Griffen Hogan Tracy, Bass.

Beethoven's Ninth

Lensic Performing Arts Center

Berlioz paints a portrait of obsessive love with opium-fueled visions of cinematic realism, featuring haunting ballroom waltzes, a march to the guillotine, and maniacal witches’ dances. Opening the program, Debussy’s tone poem heaves with hazy sensuality, and violinist Carolin Widmann explores nature and love in works by Takemitsu and Chausson.

Berlioz' Symphonie fantastique

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Our final program of the year embarks on a whirlwind tour of life, love, death and dreams. From joy to whimsy and irony, Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes explore the many facets of love, and will bring a smile to your face as you sway to the irrepressibly catchy waltz rhythms.

Boise State University

Having written for every top-flight orchestra in America, Anna Clyne’s latest is for us and with the extraordinary Jeremy Denk as soloist. Find out why The New York Times chose Anna Clyne for their feature “Five Minutes that Will Make You Love Classical Music.”

Jeremy Denk, Anna Clyne, Beethoven’s “Eroica”

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Alexander Hall

Capping the end of this exciting year will be a two-week concert tour of France from 16-30 June 2024, commencing in Paris and concluding at the Côte d’Azur. This will be the first international tour by the SSO since 2017!

SSO Spring Concerts 2024

Stanford University

Manhattan School of Music’s public programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

So-Chung Shinn, Classical Voice – Soprano

Manhattan School of Music

Pianist Natasha Paremski returns to perform Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. This is the only Rachmaninoff work for piano which Natasha has yet to perform with The Syracuse Orchestra. The show opens with Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture and concludes with Respighi’s famous Pines of Rome.

Rachmaninoff & Pines Of Rome

The Oncenter Civic Center Theaters

Maestro Tausk is joined by British composer and musicologist Paul Rissmann, as they discover and uncover the secrets to Hector Berlioz’s incomparable Symphonie fantastique. Completely revolutionary at its premiere in 1830, the piece is the product of an opium induced dreamscape. Dive deep into this great musical drama and discover its lasting power to surprise and astonish.

Orpheum Theatre

Sullivan Heights Secondary School

Strap in for the psychedelic rollercoaster of Symphonie fantastique, Berlioz’s epic fever dream of obsession, ecstasy, tantrums, and wild ambition. The NSO also performs Bryce Dessner’s Mari and Liszt’s scintillating Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by the “one in a million giant of solo piano” Benjamin Grosvenor (The Independent).

Benjamin Grosvenor plays Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 Daniele Rustioni conducts Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique

California Center for the Arts

Taco Classical: Symphonie Fantastique

Veterans Memorial Auditorium (The VETS)

In his Fantasy Symphony, the young Berlioz bared his soul in music  —torturing himself with the extreme passion he had once felt for his beloved. Through visions of dreams, opium-induced nightmares, and tender musical kisses, this masterpiece includes a riveting “March to the Scaffold” you won’t soon forget. 

Hector Berlioz

Composer

Events

Upcoming events

16 - 17 Nov, 2024

Fantastique · Cape Symphony

Nov 17, 2024

Julien Van Mellaerts baritone; Alphonse Cemin piano · Wigmore Hall

Nov 17, 2024

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Lun Li · Bangor Symphony Orchestra

Nov 17, 2024

A Trip to Spain · Poway Symphony Orchestra

Nov 19, 2024

Orchestre symphonique de Montreal/Rafael Payare · Barbican Centre

Past events

16 - 17 Nov, 2024

Fantastique · Cape Symphony

Nov 16, 2024

Symphonie Fantastique · Lubbock Symphony Orchestra

About

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