BERLIOZ: Roman Carnival Overture

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra/Luke Dollman

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra at the Christchurch Town Hall Photo: Duncan Shaw-Brown

The Roman Carnival Overture by Hector Berlioz was originally intended as a prelude to the second act of his opera Benvenuto Cellini, a largely fictional story about the Florentine sculptor. Unfortunately for Berlioz, the work was savaged by audiences at the premiere, and it sank into obscurity. But he did extract this music which stitches together themes from the opera, including the famous cors anglais melody we hear at the beginning, and the wild saltarello folk dance that accompanies the carnival scene set in Rome's Piazza Colonna.