Biography of Hector Berlioz

Fantastic symphonies

11 December 1803 8 March 1869 Hector Louis Berlioz was born on 11 December 1803 in La Cote-Saint-André, in the Department of Isère, near Grenoble, France, son of Louis, a doctor known for being among the first to experience acupuncture in Europe. Hector began studying music at the age of twelve, writing modest arrangements and compositions. Because of attempts at deterrence operated by his father soon abandoned the study of Piano; becomes, however, very good at playing the guitar and flute. As an autodidact, learns the harmony alone from textbooks, without receiving a formal instruction from someone: his first compositions are primarily romances and Chamber works.

Studies and early compositions

Yet twelve years old, Hector Berliozfalls in love with a girl of eighteen, Estelle Fornier, his neighbor. At the same time, learn to read the works of Virgil in Latin, and translated them into French with the help of his father. After attending Gymnasium in his hometown, Hector was sent to Paris by his father, who wanted him to follow the courses of medicine. Soon, however, Berlioz realizes that the road of scientific studies is not for him, and decides to leave the benches of faculty focusing on Conservatory: must undergo, however, the ostracism of the father, that feeling disrespected his will deprive the son of financial means necessary for its stay in Paris. Why Hector, to raise funds, looking for work and is used with the theatre of Dramatic Gymnasium as a Chorister. During this period he composed the "Messe solennelle", while in 1825 began writing "Les francs-juges", which completes the following year but never played. Since 1826, Hector studied composition with maestro Jean-Francois Le Sueur and Anton Reicha. also, send an escape at the Prix de Rome, recognition that the French State grants to young people who are distinguished in the arts, but his work is discarded immediately (the desire to win that award will become almost an obsession for him until 1830, when his cantata will-finally-the goal).

The inspirations

In 1827 composed the overture "Waverley" and began work on the Irish actress Harriet Smithson Odeon Theatre together with some Shakespearean performances. Infatuatosi, Hector Berlioz begins to flood the hotel room of Harriet with love letters, confusing and even terrorize the addressee, which in fact will never Court. In 1828 Berlioz listen the third and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony at the Paris Conservatoire, and he is excited; at the same time, the law for the first time the "Faust" by Goethe that becomes a source of inspiration for "Huit scènes de Faust", which was later transformed in "La damnation de Faust." Thorough acquaintance with the works of Beethoven, begins-in the meantime-to study the English language, so you can read without difficulty Shakespeare; In addition, he begins to write as a music critic. In 1830 Berlioz composed the "Symphonie fantastique", a job that will give him notoriety and fame.

Important meetings

Fell in love with Marie Moke (although the Symphony was inspired by Smithson), in this same year succeeds-as mentioned-to win the Prix de Rome thanks to the cantata "Sardanapale". After having arranged "La Marseillaise" and composed an overture for Shakespeare's "the tempest" represented at the Paris Opera, he was able to meet and get to know Franz Liszt, with whom he began a long and passionate friendship. On 30 December 1831, Hector leaves France and leaves for Rome, as the Prix de Rome winners imposes spending two years studying in Rome. In Italy he wrote numerous works intended to achieve success.

The stay in Italy

During his stay in the peninsula, living at the Villa Medici French Academy; It remains, however, very disappointed from Rome, which he describes as "the most stupid and prosaic of city I know, no space for anyone with a head or a heart". For this reason, tries several times to get away, visiting the surrounding areas: during one of these trips also has the chance to meet a group of Carbonari, Italian Patriots living in France eager to unify the country. In these years back, among other things, the overture of "King Lear", composed in Nice, and "Rob Roy". Later, Berlioz travels and visit Pompeii, Naples, Milan, Tivoli, Florence, Turin and Genoa; back in Paris in November 1832.

The return home

In France he met Ernest Legouvé, where he became a friend, and finally embarks on a love affair with Harriet, despite language difficulties: he does not understand spoken English, while she knows absolutely nothing about French. The couple marries, however, on 3 October 1833 in a civil ceremony celebrated the British Embassy: among the witnesses there's even Liszt. The following year, Harriet gave birth to their only child, Louis. In the decades that followed, the musical production of Berlioz is enriched with new works, despite ups and downs, and with youth fraction of rhythms. In March of 1854 Hector suffers a blow to the death of Harriet; the following year he met Richard Wagner, with whom however the relations cool within a short time. In the last years of his life, Hector Berlioz also travels in Russia. Die the March 8 of 1869 in Paris, at the age of 66 years.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.