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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 deep admiration for Byron's romantic sensibility.

The Maverick and His Larger-Than-Life Persona

Berlioz was a man of intense passions and a famously volatile temperament. He could be charming and witty, but also intensely opinionated and prone to dramatic pronouncements. His tireless efforts to conduct his own vast works, often in the face of financial hardship and critical misunderstanding, highlight his unwavering belief in his artistic vision. He also enjoyed a distinguished career as a music critic, using his sharp pen to champion new music and critique what he saw as artistic stagnation.

An amusing anecdote involves Berlioz's often literal approach to his programmatic music. During one rehearsal of a particularly boisterous passage, the orchestra was struggling to capture the wildness he envisioned. Frustrated, Berlioz reportedly

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