Hector Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique (Esa-Pekka Salonen)

Information

Composer: Hector Berlioz

• Symphonie Fantastique, H48

San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor

Date: 2024

Label: SFS Media

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After attending a performance of Hamlet in Paris, Hector Berlioz fell instantly and wildly in love with actress Harriet Smithson. He was then inspired to write Symphonie fantastique, a vaguely autobiographical symphony in which Berlioz imagines poisoning himself with opium and, in a psychedelic haze, envisions himself killing his beloved and being sentenced to death. Berlioz and Smithson married a year after meeting for the first time at the work’s second premiere, but ultimately separated a decade later.

Esa-Pekka Salonen (born 1958) is a Finnish conductor and composer, widely regarded as one of the leading figures in contemporary classical music. Initially trained as a horn player, Salonen later turned to conducting and quickly gained recognition for his dynamic and innovative approach. He served as the principal conductor and artistic director of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and later as the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (2009–2019), where he earned acclaim for his fresh programming and commitment to new music. Known for his versatility, Salonen has conducted a wide range of repertoire, from classical masterpieces to contemporary works, and has composed a number of orchestral and chamber music pieces. His compositions, such as Nyx and Violin Concerto, have been performed worldwide, and he is praised for his ability to blend modern sounds with traditional structures. Salonen continues to be a prominent figure in both conducting and composition, influencing the development of contemporary orchestral music.

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