Composer

Stewart Goodyear, "one of the best pianists of his generation" (Philadelphia Inquirer), performs two works by Liszt alongside Music Director Ken-David Masur, beginning with his dazzling and dramatic First Piano Concerto. Next is Liszt’s Totentanz, or “Dance of Death,” whose phantasmagoric music provides an excellent transition to Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, a musical hallucination full of dark revels, unrequited love, and a journey to the underworld.

EPSG:4326

Liszt Piano & Symphonie Fantastique

Warner Grand Theater

 Beethoven's Eroica

Murrieta Mesa High School

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, lauded as a “compelling musical storyteller” by The New York Times, joins the NY Phil in Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, by turns energetic and elegiac. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts Berlioz’s Romantic tale of a young artist’s heart and fantasies, complete with a harrowing, hallucinatory march to the scaffold and a chaotic witches’ sabbath.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Salonen, and Symphonie fantastique

Lincoln Center

The works of William Shakespeare deeply influenced composer Hector Berlioz. In fact, it was actress Harriet Smithson’s performances of two great Shakespearean heroines — Ophelia in Hamlet and of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet — that captivated the composer and led to their (ill-fated) marriage. As we close the season, Andris Nelsons leads one of Berlioz’s most successful and vibrant compositions, Roméo et Juliette. Berlioz called his Roméo et Juliette a “symphony with choruses,” highlighting the importance of the orchestra and of the work’s overall form. These performances celebrate the role of French repertoire in the BSO’s rich history; the complete symphony and movements from it were frequently programmed by Pierre Monteux, Serge Koussevitzky, Charles Munch, and Seiji Ozawa.

Andris Nelsons conducts Berlioz's Romeo et Juliette

Boston Symphony Hall

“The hottest artist on the classical music planet” (The New York Times), superstar Lang Lang plays sold-out concerts in all continents of the globe; he returns to Cleveland to perform Saint-Saëns most popular concerto. In his Symphonie fantastique, 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.

Lang Lang Plays Saint-Saëns

Severance Music Center

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. 

Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique

Open Rehearsal: Symphonie Fantastique

Veterans Memorial Auditorium (The VETS)

Taco Classical: Symphonie Fantastique

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

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.

Symphonie fantastique

Orpheum Theatre

Sullivan Heights Secondary School

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

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

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

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.

Symphonie Fantastique

Boise State University

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

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

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

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

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

Eternal Love Eternal Harmonies

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

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

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

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Program One • Staging the Musical Imagination

Fisher Center at Bard

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

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

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

Program Five • Women in Berlioz’s Circle

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sundance Square

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

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

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

Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences

**Symphonie Fantastique by The Philadelphia Orchestra**

Join us for an unforgettable performance of Berlioz's most famous work, "Symphonie fantastique," a mesmerizing tale of love and madness that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. This enchanting program features the exceptional talents of French conductor Stéphane Denève and renowned cellist Gautier Capuçon, bringing to life a vivid connection with composers uniquely identified with their country.

**Performance Details:**
- **Dates and Times:**
  - Friday, November 22, 2024, at 2:00 PM
  - Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 8:00 PM
- **Location:** Verizon Hall, newly rededicated as Marian Anderson Hall, home of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
- **Conductor:** Stéphane Denève
- **Soloist:** Gautier Capuçon, Cello
- **Program:**
  - Augusta Holmès: La Nuit et l’amour Interlude, from Ludus pro patria
  - Guillaume Connesson: Cello Concerto (U.S. premiere)
  - Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

**About the Performance:**
Experience the U.S. premiere of Connesson's virtuosic Cello Concerto, a work celebrated for its exuberant colors and technical brilliance, perfectly showcasing Capuçon's impeccable taste and Romantic ardor. Under the baton of Stéphane Denève, known for his fabulous ear and mastery of scores, this program promises an evening of emotional depth and musical excellence.

**Tickets and Subscription Packages:**
This performance is available as part of the 2024-25 Subscription Package, offering magnificent programming and exclusive subscriber benefits. Choose from packages including Friday Matinee A, Saturday Evening B, or Create Your Own for a personalized concert experience.

**Additional Information:**
- Programs, artists, dates, prices, and availability are subject to change.
- For ticket sales and subscriber services, please contact:
  - Ticket Sales: 215.893.1999
  - Subscriber Services: 215.893.1955
  - Group Sales: 215.893.1968
  - Donor Services: 215.893.3151

Don't miss this opportunity to witness a masterful blend of storytelling and symphonic music at the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall. Reserve your seats now for a musical journey with The Philadelphia Orchestra that promises to be both fantastique and unforgettable.

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Following last season’s celebrated Samson and Delilah in Concert, join us for an abridged version of Hector Berlioz’s epic in a concert version featuring full orchestra and chorus. Les Troyens à Carthage (Acts 3, 4, & 5) begins after the fall of Troy as Aeneas arrives at Carthage with tales of the Trojan War. Upon arrival, he orders his army to assist Queen Dido in defeating the invading Nubians before falling in love with the Queen himself. However, when duty calls, the two lovers are parted while a funeral pyre burns.

Les Troyens In Concert

Seattle Center

The ISO winds shine bright as Jun Märkl leads this colorful set of works. The program opens with Ravel’s take on the vibrant dance rhythms of Spain. ISO principal oboe Jennifer Christen and principal bassoon Ivy Ringel team up to perform a new double concerto by Indianapolis-based composer Hanna Benn. Berlioz invites us into his wildest dreams in his psychedelic love letter, Symphonie fantastique.

Hilbert Circle Theatre

No work delivers such dizzying pleasures while going to hell — and back — as Berlioz’s dramatic opera. Riccardo Muti conducts this kaleidoscopic work, with its timeless themes of temptation and redemption. An all-star cast joins the CSO and Chicago Symphony Chorus, which vividly portrays the hordes of peasants and soldiers, damned souls and demons.

Hector Berlioz

Composer

Events

26 - 28 Apr, 2024

Liszt Piano & Symphonie Fantastique · Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Apr 27, 2024

Beethoven's Eroica · Temecula Valley Symphony

1 - 4 May, 2024

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Salonen, and Symphonie fantastique · New York Philharmonic

2 - 4 May, 2024

Andris Nelsons conducts Berlioz's Romeo et Juliette · Boston Symphony Orchestra

2 - 4 May, 2024

Lang Lang Plays Saint-Saëns · The Cleveland Orchestra

About

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