Berlioz had been interested in setting Shakespeare's comedy since his return from Italy in 1833, but only composed the score of Béatrice et Bénédict following the completion of Les Troyens in 1858. It was first performed at the opening of the Theater Baden-Baden on 9 August 1862. Berlioz conducted the first two performances of a German version in Weimar in 1863, where, as he wrote in his memoirs, he was "overwhelmed by all sorts of kind attention."
| Original Name | Béatrice et Bénédict |
| Librettist | Hector Berlioz (based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing) |
| Date of composition | 1862 (1860-1862) |
| Premiered | 1862, August 9th (Theater der Stadt) in Baden-Baden, Germany |
| First published | 1863 |
| Dedicated to | M. Edouard Bénazet |
| Type | Opera |
| Catalogue | H 138 |
| Spoken language | French |
| Instruments |
Orchestra
Chorus/Choir Voice (Soprano) - Héro, daughter of Léonato Voice (Soprano) - Beatrice, niece of Léonato Voice (Tenor) - Bénédict, Sicilian officer, friend of Claudio Voice (Bass) - Don Pedro, Sicilian general Voice (Baritone) - Claudio, general's aide-de-camp Voice (Bass) - Somarone, a music master Voice (Contralto) - Ursule, Héro's lady-in-waiting Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Léonato, Governor of Messina Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - A Messenger Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - A Notary |
| Autotranslations beta |
Hector Berlioz: Beatrice and Benedick, H 138 Hector Berlioz: Beatrice and Benedick, H 138 Hector Berlioz: Beatrice and Benedick, H 138 |