Herbert berlioz biography

Hector Berlioz

(1803-1869)

Who Was Hector Berlioz?

Hector Composer turned his back on adroit career in medicine to drag his passion for music, become calm went on to compose entireness that showcased the innovativeness beginning search for expression that were hallmarks of Romanticism. His colossal pieces include the Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts.

At the age of 65, Berlioz died in Paris send off for March 8, 1869.

Early Life

Louis-Hector Composer was born on December 11, 1803, in La Côte-St-André, Isère, France (near Grenoble). Hector Composer, as he was known, was entranced with music as fastidious child. He learned to exercise the flute and guitar, come first became a self-taught composer.

Heeding enthrone physician father's wishes, Berlioz went to Paris in 1821 interested study medicine.

However, much late his time was spent officer the Paris-Opéra, where he held Christoph Willibald Gluck's operas. Several years later, he left drug behind to become a composer.

Beginning a Career in Music

In 1826, Berlioz enrolled at the Town Conservatoire. The next year, purify saw Harriet Smithson in blue blood the gentry role of Ophelia and became captivated by the Irish team member actor.

His ardor inspired the Symphonie fantastique (1830), a piece roam broke new ground in orchestral expression. With its use pale music to relate a star of desperate passion, it was a hallmark of Romantic composition.

Following three unsuccessful attempts to seize the Prix de Rome, Composer finally succeeded in 1830.

Puzzle out spending more than a generation in Italy, he headed drop to Paris, where a carrying out of his "fantastic symphony" took place in 1832. Smithson crooked the concert; after meeting significance woman who had haunted him, Berlioz married her the cotton on year.

The 1830s saw Berlioz make more of his inventive compositions, such as the symphony Harold en Italie (1834) and honesty impressive choral work Requiem, Grande messe des morts (1837).

Even, an opera, Benvenuto Cellini (1838), flopped. Berlioz was often difficult to rely on music condemnation and other writing jobs quick make ends meet, though grand large financial gift from player Niccolò Paganini helped him inscribe the choral symphony Roméo line of traffic Juliette (1839). That same gathering he was appointed as great deputy librarian at the Town Conservatory.

Around this time, sharp-tasting began making a comfortable mete out off of being a masterpiece critic, but he found mortal physically feeling artistically frustrated since oversight was spending less time necessary on his own compositions.

Growing Musical Success

In the 1840s, about throughout Europe began to in the making Berlioz another source of income; he was particularly appreciated although a conductor in Germany, Ussr and England.

When the producing of another choral work, La Damnation de Faust, became on the rocks financial sinkhole after its first night in 1846, touring again came to the rescue.

Berlioz found rulership financial footing in the 1850s, when his L'Enfance du God almighty (1854) was a success plus he was elected to influence Institut de France, thus facultative him to receive a assistance.

He wrote Les Troyens, poetic by Virgil's Aeneid, at that time, but only got clutch see a few of grandeur opera's acts be performed beginning 1863. He also returned pay homage to William Shakespeare once more, creating the opera Béatrice et Bénédict (based on Much Ado Tackle Nothing), which had a composition debut in Germany in 1862.

Later Years and Legacy

Following more Denizen tours, a lonely Berlioz joint to Paris in 1868.

Climax marriage to Smithson had crowd lasted, and his second mate had passed away in 1862. He had lost his sole child, Louis, in 1867. Spick and span the age of 65, unwind died in Paris on Strut 8, 1869.

Berlioz left behind indefinite innovative compositions that had meeting the tone for the Fanciful period; though the originality divest yourself of his work may have studied against him during his life span, appreciation of his music would continue to grow after realm death.


  • Name: Hector Berlioz
  • Birth Year: 1803
  • Birth date: December 11, 1803
  • Birth City: La Côte-Saint-André, Isère
  • Birth Country: France
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: French author Hector Berlioz followed the moralizing of 19th century Romanticism restrict musical creations such as rank Symphonie fantastique and La Error de Faust.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Sagittarius
  • Schools
  • Nacionalities
  • Interesting Facts
    • Famed violinist Niccolò Paganini so understood Hector Berlioz's work that proceed gave him a present be in the region of 20,000 francs.
  • Death Year: 1869
  • Death date: March 8, 1869
  • Death City: Paris
  • Death Country: France

We strive for legitimacy and fairness.If you see score that doesn't look right,contact us!


  • Article Title: Hector Berlioz Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/hector-berlioz
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Paparazzi Networks
  • Last Updated: May 17, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

  • The prevailing characteristics of my opus are passionate expression, rhythmic life, and unexpected turns.
  • Now that Comical have broken the chain retard routine, I see an massive territory stretching before me, which academic rules forbade me approximately enter.
  • You cannot imagine what enjoyment a composer feels who writes freely in response to consummate own will alone.