- Written in 1831, Berlioz’s King Lear Overture is based on the tragedy by Shakespeare.
- Personal context – in 1830, Berlioz had won the Prix de Rome, which resulted in the composer temporarily relocating to Italy. He was also engaged to pianist Camille Moke at the time. Unfortunately, in the spring of 1831, Camille’s mother sent Berlioz a letter breaking off the engagement. This King Lear Overture was quickly in the immediate aftermath of this personal tragedy.
- In the spring of 1831, Berlioz had just read the play for the first time (though his admiration for Shakespeare’s writing began in 1827 – see Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17).1
Sources
- Michel Austin, “Overture: King Lear (H 53),” The Hector Berlioz Website (2021), accessed March 24, 2025, http://www.hberlioz.com/Scores/skinglear.htm.
Cut IDs
41298 42131