Still percolating my recent fab trip to Brussels. I particularly loved the utterly great Musical Instruments Museum, where I confirmed my belief that Adolphe Sax had too much time on his hands, and too much easy access to brass.

I was delighted, though, to find that the mad Sax inventions were usually illustrated with soundclips of #Berlioz compositions.

"..... and burnt the topless towers of Ilium ....."

The Monteverdi Choir and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique perform Berlioz's Les Troyens at the Proms, thrillingly conducted by Dinis Sousa, with Michael Spyres as Aeneas, Alice Coote as Cassandra and Paul Murrihy as Dido.

My review for The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/04/prom-64-les-troyens-review-berlioz-royal-albert-hall-dinis-sousa-john-eliot-gardiner

@classicalmusic@a,gup.pe #Berlioz #Troyens #Proms

Definitely playing through some #RenataScotto recordings tonight in her memory. A reminder that her memoir was titled *More Than a Diva* -- yes!

One of the joys of #Opera in the digital age comes from the number of unreleased or limited release recordings that make their way on to Youtube. So I am not only enjoying recordings I've cherished of hers for a while, but also some new-to-me stuff.

Here is Scotto doing "L'Absence" from #Berlioz *Les nuits d'été* live in 1993, a cycle that I don't believe she ever recorded (but I could be wrong):

https://youtu.be/Y_-cjo09hKA?t=938

Although I've cued up "L'Absence" for the link - a personal favorite - she sings the entire cycle there. I might add some other finds to this thread in coming days.

Berlioz's last opera Béatrice et Bénédict was first performed in Baden-Baden #OTD in 1862.

This is the great nocturne that closes Act I, sung by Ileana Cotrubas and Nadine Denize with the Orchestre de Paris and Daniel Barenboim.

It's one of the most beautiful things in all music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtAp8oG_-sM

@classicalmusic #Berlioz

Berlioz und die Einsamkeit der Solobratsche - Harold in Italien
Angeblich im Auftrag #Paganinis komponierte Hector #Berlioz 1834 ein Werk für #Bratsche und Orchster. Das Ergebnis ist Romantik pur: ein faszinierender Zwitter aus Sinfonie und Solokonzert, in dem der Komponist Autobiografisches mit Lord #Byrons literarischer Vorlage vermischt.
https://www1.wdr.de/mediathek/audio/wdr3/meisterstuecke/audio-berlioz-und-die-einsamkeit-der-solobratsche---harold-in-italien-100.html

[Memoirs of #Berlioz, p. 56 https://archive.org/details/memoirsofberlioz0000davi/page/56/mode/1up]

#SylvainCambreling #SymphonikerHamburg #Berlioz

🔊 #NowPlaying on fip

Berlioz:
🎵 Deep in it

#Berlioz

https://open.spotify.com/track/3J2WUEn6oFN8eDPZov7w9I

Right now, #Farrenc #Berlioz with Solvang and #Price's Third from #Oldenburg https://buff.ly/42xiNq0 #wch

In 25 minutes, #Farrenc #Berlioz with Solvang and #Price's Third from #Oldenburg https://buff.ly/42xiNq0 #wch

Today, #Farrenc #Berlioz with Solvang and #Price's Third from #Oldenburg https://www.worldconcerthall.com/en/schedule/farrenc_berlioz_with_solvang_and_prices_third_from_oldenburg/75538/ #wch

Right now, #Berlioz's 'La Damnation de Faust' with Spyres, Leonard, Relyea and @slso from St. Louis https://buff.ly/42oUASK #wch

In 20 minutes, #Berlioz's 'La Damnation de Faust' with Spyres, Leonard, Relyea and @slso from St. Louis https://buff.ly/42oUASK #wch

Today, #Berlioz's 'La Damnation de Faust' with Spyres, Leonard, Relyea and @slso from St. Louis https://www.worldconcerthall.com/en/schedule/berliozs_la_damnation_de_faust_with_spyres_leonard_and_relyea_from_st_louis/75530/ #wch

Right now, #Berlioz #Liszt with Balázs and #Berlioz's 'Symphonie fantastique' from #Budapest
https://buff.ly/427uHHC #wch

In 20 minutes, #Berlioz #Liszt with Balázs and #Berlioz's 'Symphonie fantastique' from #Budapest https://buff.ly/427uHHC #wch

Today, #Berlioz #Liszt with Balázs and #Berlioz's 'Symphonie fantastique' from #Budapest
https://www.worldconcerthall.com/en/schedule/berlioz_liszt_with_balazs_and_berliozs_symphonie_fantastique_from_budapest/75468/ #wch

Right now, @laphil plays #Crumb with Burgos and Dolinar and #Berlioz's 'Symphonie fantastique' in Los Angeles https://buff.ly/43YCdWw #wch

In 20 minutes, @laphil plays #Crumb with Burgos and Dolinar and #Berlioz's 'Symphonie fantastique' in Los Angeles https://buff.ly/43YCdWw #wch

Today, @laphil plays #Crumb with Burgos and Dolinar and #Berlioz's 'Symphonie fantastique' in Los Angeles https://www.worldconcerthall.com/en/schedule/crumb_with_burgos_and_dolinar_and_berliozs_symphonie_fantastique_from_los_angeles/75289/ #wch