Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840) encouraged Berlioz (1803–1869) to write Harold en Italie. The two first met after a concert of Berlioz’s works conducted by Narcisse Girard on 22 December 1833, three years after the premiere of Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique. Paganini had acquired a superb viola, a Stradivarius—"But I have no suitable music. Would you like to write a solo for viola? You are the only one I can trust for this task."
| Original Name | Harold en Italie |
| Date of composition | 1834 |
| Premiered | 1834, November 23rd (Conservatoire) in Paris, France |
| First published | 1848 |
| Dedicated to | Monsieur Humbert Ferrand |
| Type | Symphony Concertante |
| Tonality | G Major |
| Catalogue | H 68 |
| Approx. duration | 40 minutes |
| Instruments |
Viola
Orchestra |
| Arrangements |
●
Franz Liszt: Harold en Italie (Symphonie de Berlioz), S. 472
● Franz Liszt: Marche des pèlerins chantant la prière du soir, S. 473 |
| In listings |
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Famous Works
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| Autotranslations beta |
Hector Berlioz: Harold in Italy en sol majeur, H 68 "Symphonie avec un alto principal en 4 parties (Symphony with solo viola in 4 parts)" Hector Berlioz: Harold in Italy in sol maggiore, H 68 "Symphonie avec un alto principal en 4 parties (Symphony with solo viola in 4 parts)" Hector Berlioz: Harold in Italy G-dur, H 68 "Symphonie avec un alto principal en 4 parties (Symphony with solo viola in 4 parts)" |