Click Here for the Sound Byte The excerpt is from the first movement right at the first enterance of the solo viola and the introduction of the idée fixe.
For a detailed description of Berlioz's life, please goto the link above.
As Michael Reason, conductor of the Niagara Symphony, put it "Harold in Italy is one of those works that comes along once in the life of the world." In other words, it is so unique that there is a great possiblility that there will never be another work like it. The solo viola doesn't quite play a concerto, and certainly isn't part of the main orchestra. The solo line really appears to comment on what the orchestra is say.
The whole premiss of the piece is that the ficticous Harold (read Berlioz) wanders throught the beautiful country of Italy and comments on what he sees around him. Never really joining in what is happening, but certinly not keeping his distance. In his strong and well-developed style, Berlioz crafts this works and make it enchanting and strikingly beautiful. Originally written by request of the great violinist Niccolo Paganini, who never preformed the work, this is one of the most difficult viola works ever written.
The first part of this "Symphony with Viola Solo" is entitled 'Harold aux montanges' (Harold in the mountains), Adagio - Allegro starts with only orchestra and it is not for many minutes that the viola comes in. When the soloist starts playing, the idée fixe is introduced. Unlike in his other works, that idea is not fully developed.
It is not until the second(Marche des pèlerins chantant la prièredu soir, Allegretto) and third movements (Sérénade d'un montagnard des Abruzzes à sa maitresse, Allegro assai - Allegretto) that the idée is developed.
Click Here for the Sound Byte The excerpt is from the first movement right at the first enterance of the solo viola and the introduction of the idée fixe.
The soloist is Nokuko Imai with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Colin Davis. This full priced Philips 2 CD set is well worth its price. Not only does it have Harold in Italy, but also the Symphony Fantastique, Le Carnaval Romain, Le Corsaire, and the Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale with the John Alldis Choir - that's a total of over two and a half hours of unadulterated Berlioz!!