Musical Interlude: Here's another long-form video to play while you're doing something else, and it's another Berlioz symphony. This was written at the encouragement of Paganini and is based on a poem by Lord Byron, so it's got crazy Romantic cred.

The four movements depict various scenes in Italy witnessed by Byron's Childe Harold: A scene in the mountains, a march of pilgrims, a serenade by a mountaineer, and finally, an orgy of bandits. (Hey, it's Berlioz AND Byron, what do you expect?)

"Harold en Italie," composed by Hector Berlioz, performed by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4NC4E5RXik&t=35s

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Musical Interlude: OK, here's something to listen to while you do other stuff. Classical music isn't necessarily staid; this symphony is pretty intense.

It depicts the hallucinations of a man who's taken opium to deal with unrequited love. The first movement is reflective of his passions; the second, a vision of a ball, the third, a scene in the country where he realizes his love is not returned; the fourth is a march to the scaffold (you can hear the guillotine blade falling), and the last is a dream of a witch's sabbath, with his love taking part. It's fun stuff!

"Symphonie Fantastique," composed by Hector Berlioz, performed by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgXW-57UDMc

#MusicalInterlude #ClassicalMusic #HectorBerlioz #Opium #Visions #GothicMusic