The Symphony (Berlioz)

The Symphony Fantastique by Hector Berlioz is a groundbreaking 19th-century orchestral work that depicts a vivid, autobiographical story of passionate love and emotional turmoil. It features five interconnected movements, each illustrating scenes like longing, obsession, a vivid dream, and a haunting episode in the countryside. Berlioz innovatively uses orchestration to create atmospheric sounds and psychological depth, integrating recurring musical themes called "idées fixes" to represent characters or ideas. The symphony is notable for its expressive power, imaginative orchestration, and pioneering techniques, making it a landmark in the development of program music—composing that tells a specific story or paints a scene through music.