Hector Berlioz

French Romantic composer

Hector Berlioz was a prominent French Romantic composer whose innovative compositions and orchestrations had a significant impact on the development of classical music. Born on December 11, 1803, in La Côte-Saint-André, France, Berlioz initially pursued medical studies before fully dedicating himself to music. He is best known for his programmatic symphony "Symphonie Fantastique," which premiered in 1830 and is considered one of his most famous works. This symphony is an example of program music, where the music tells a story or follows a narrative. In this case, it depicts an artist's self-destructive passion for a beautiful woman. The work is notable for its bold use of orchestration and its vivid depiction of the story's drama and pathos.