Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with Sir Simon Rattle

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor 
Timothy Ridout, viola

Berlioz Harold in Italy 
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

Arguably the world’s most famous and dynamic conductor, Sir Simon Rattle reimagines two unique symphonic masterpieces by Berlioz with the internationally renowned period-instrument Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Timothy Ridout, acclaimed by Le Monde as being ‘in the very closed circle of great violists’.

‘[Sir Simon] Rattle lifts orchestras to soaring heights with his infectious energy and meticulous attention to detail’ (Gramophone).

Inspired by Byron’s poetry, Harold in Italy is awash with unforgettable orchestral colour and incident with the prominent, expressive solo viola cast as a ‘melancholic dreamer’ traversing mountains, encountering pilgrims and a bandits’ orgy along the way.

Infatuated by the Irish actress Harriet Smithson, Berlioz poured his desire for her into the Symphonie fantastique, an epic, whirlwind ride from quiet reverie to wild abandon, through a lovelorn artist’s increasingly feverish, opium-fuelled visions culminating in a grotesque march to the hangman’s scaffold and a demonic Witches’ Sabbath. 

Presented by NCH