Hector Berlioz By Genre

Hector Berlioz's compositions by musical category.

Symphonies 16%


■ Berlioz’s four symphonies could hardly be more contrasted, ranging from the crazed imaginings of the Symphonie Fantastique to the enraptured drama of Roméo Et Juliette.

Overtures 5%


■ Some of Berlioz’s most striking orchestral invention is to be found in his concert overtures, which include Waverley and Rob Roy (inspired by the novels of Sir Walter Scott).

Concertante 1%


■ Almost uniquely, Berlioz left virtually no chamber or solo instrumental music, and just one concertante item, the typically unconventional Rêverie Et Caprice.

Choral 35%


■ Berlioz’s choral music is dominated by five grand opuses: the Messe Solennelle, Grande Messe Des Morts, Te Deum, La Damnation De Faust and L’enfance Du Christ.

Songs 12%


■ The most famous of Berlioz’s songs are to be found in the glorious song cycle Les Nuits D’été, but he wrote over 30 other settings too.

Opera 31%


■ He wrote five pure operas but only fragments of Les Francs-Juges survive; and La Nonne Sanglante was left unfinished.