March12 2025 (Wed)
7:30 PM

Hector Berlioz

Czech National Symphony Orchestra

Municipal House - Smetana Hall | Classical Music

110 minutes | Available

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Date: March 12, 2025 | 19:30 (Wed)
Venue: Municipal House - Smetana Hall
Duration: 110 minutes
Status: Available
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Group discount 10+ people
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Listen to the Fantastic Symphony which has become without a doubt the Berlioz's best-known composition

Fifteen years ago, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra performed in the Smetana Hall of Municipal House, alongside two musical masterminds, conductor Libor Pešek and actor Jan Tříska. The program featured two incredible works by French composer, author and musical critic Hector Berlioz, his first work being the Fantastic Symphony: Episode from the Life of an Artist and the second being the lyrical monodrama Lélio, or the Return to Life. The Fantastic Symphony is full of love, passion, inner tension and disappointment. Berlioz himself once declared that “Music is the expression of a passionate and unhappy soul. 

His inspiration for the piece was his unrequited love of the young Irish actress Harriet Smithson. After some time of writing pieces for her, Smithson became entangled with Berlioz, but their love did not last long and they divorced in a few years.

The lyrical monodrama Lélioor the Return to Life, was written by Berlioz during his infatuation with Harriet Smithson, but also referenced his tragic love experiences with Camille Moke which occurred a year later, in 1831. The piece includes recitation, solo and choral singing as well as purely orchestral parts. The highlight of the piece is the unforgettable returning musical motif from the Fantastic Symphony, the so-called idée fixe.The world premiere of both works took place in 1832.

Now, the audience will have the opportunity to hear these two breathtaking compositions performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno, the soloists Jiří Rajniš, Giulio Pelligra and directed by our chief conductor Steven Mercurio. The concert will be narrated by Martin Hofmann.

Program:

Hector Berlioz
Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14
Lélio, or the Return to Life Op. 14b

Performing:

Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Steven Mercurio - conductor
Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno 
Joel Hána - choir master
Giulio Pelligra - tenor
Jiří Rajniš - baritone
Martin Hofmann - narrator

Important: 

  • 20 min. intermission
  • Dress code: smart casual 

Prague opera and ballet performances

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