Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) was the leading French composer of Romantic music, best known for his innovative Symphonie fantastique and use of large-scale orchestras and choruses in works like The Trojans opera. Berlioz's innovative style brought successes and failures in equal measure, but his lasting legacy is that he dramatically changed what was thought possible in orchestral music.
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Definition
Timeline
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1803 - 1869Life of the composer Hector Berlioz.
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11 Dec 1803Hector Berlioz is born in La-Côte-Saint-André, France.
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1826 - 1830Hector Berlioz studies at the Paris Conservatoire.
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1827Hector Berlioz falls madly in love with the Irish actress Harriet Smithson.
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1830Hector Berlioz composes Symphonie fantastique.
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1830Hector Berlioz wins the prestigious Prix de Rome music prize.
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Oct 1833Hector Berlioz marries the Irish actress Harriet Smithson.
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1834Hector Berlioz composes his symphony Harold en Italie.
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1834Hector Berlioz composes his opera Benvenuto Cellini.
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1839Hector Berlioz composes his choral symphony Roméo et Juliette.
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1841Hector Berlioz composes his song-cycle Les nuits d’été (Summer Nights).
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1842 - 1862Hector Berlioz makes regular conducting tours in Europe with great success.
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1843Hector Berlioz publishes an important treatise on orchestration.
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1854Hector Berlioz marries the singer Marie Recto.
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1854Hector Berlioz composes his oratorio L’enfance du Christ (The Childhood of Christ).
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1856Hector Berlioz composes his opera Les Troyens (The Trojans).
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1862Hector Berlioz composes his comic opera Béatrice et Bénédict.
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8 Mar 1869Hector Berlioz dies in Paris.
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1870The autobiography of Hector Berlioz, Mémoires, is published.
