Berlioz: ‘Sabbath Night’s Dream’ from Symphonie fantastique
In this programmatic symphony, a young artist has fallen under the spell of a woman of near ideal beauty. Alas, it doesn’t end well. In this opium-fuelled dream we encounter spirits, sorcerers and monsters which are assembled for his funeral – listen out for the spooky woodwind glissandos.
The ‘idée fixe’ (his beloved’s musical theme) has now become a trivial and grotesque dance in 6/8 and is then combined with the tolling bells of the Dies Irae. This is one of the most visionary pieces of music ever written and Berlioz’s sense of drama and his use of the orchestra are incredible.