Symphonie Fantastique

Available for over a year

The Symphonie Fantastique developed from Berlioz’s obsession with British actress Harriet Smithson. Filled with romantic visions from opium use, Berlioz’s obsession appears as an idée fixie (literally fixed idea) throughout, at first comforting and loving but later mocking and tormenting him to death. Composer: Hector Berlioz Performers: BBC National Orchestra of Wales Conductor: Thierry Fischer Recording date: 20 July 2007 Date of broadcast: 20 July 2007