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Introduction:

• A programmatic symphony written in 1830. The first performance was at the Paris Conservatoire on 5 December 1830, conducted by Francois-Antoine Habeneck.
• Berlioz’s programme notes for the piece alluded to the romantic sufferings of a gifted artist who poisoned himself with opium because of his unrequited love for a beautiful and fascinating woman. In real life, the Shakespearean actress, Harriet Smithson, was the woman who in 1833 married Berlioz.

Recordings:

• Symphonie fantastique, Le Carnaval romain.
  London Symphony Orchestra.
  Sir Colin Davis.
  Philips.

• Symphonie Fantastique.
  Jean-Francois Heisser, Marie-Josephe Jude (Piano vis-à-vis Pleyel 1928).
  Cite de la Misique Philharmonie de Paris.
  Harmonia Mundi.
  Presto Editor’s Choice (2019).

• Symphonie fantastique.
  Berliner Philharmoniker.
  Herbert von Karajan.
  Deutsche Grammophon.

• Berlioz. Ravel.
  Orchestre de Paris.
  Klaus Makela.
  Decca.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2025).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2025): Finalist.

• Le carnaval romain, Symphonie fantastique.
  Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal.
  Rafael Payare.
  Pentatone.

• Symphonie Fantastique.
  Les Siecles.
  Francois-Xavier Roth.
  Harmonia Mundi.
  Gramophone Magazine (2019): Recording of the Month.
  Radio 3 Record Review (2019): Disc of the Week.
  Gramophone Awards (2020): Finalist Orchestral.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.