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Herold in Italy Program Notes, recordings and sheet music

Harold en Italie: A Byronic Journey Through Sound

In Harold en Italie, the viola soloist remains a detached, contemplative observer, whose characteristic, unchanging theme (the idée fixe, a concept Berlioz explored earlier in his Symphonie fantastique) weaves through the orchestral tapestry as Harold experiences various scenes of Italian life and landscape:

  • I. Harold in the Mountains: Scenes of melancholy, happiness, and pastoral beauty.

  • II. March of the Pilgrims, Singing Their Evening Prayer: A processional march, serene and devotional.

  • III. Serenade of an Abruzzese Mountaineer to His Mistress: A charming, folk-infused serenade.

  • IV. Orgy of the Brigands: A wild, chaotic finale, from which Harold, disgusted, withdraws.

This work brilliantly showcases Berlioz's genius for orchestral color, vivid imagery, and psychological depth, reflecting his

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