Tchaikovsky

Probably the most romantic story of all time, the tale of Romeo and Juliet has inspired a huge amount of music. In addition to several operas and Prokofiev's ballet, there is Tchaikovsky's "Fantasy Overture".

If it had been written fifty years later, the piece would have been described as a tone poem - the music follows the plot from its sinister opening to its tragic conclusion.

Life is often said to imitate art, and in Tchaikovsky's case there is a certain amount of evidence that this is true. Rumour has it that he committed suicide by drinking poisoned water following a scandalous love affair.

Robert Schumann

Piano Concerto in A minor

Luxembourg Radio Symphony Orchestra

Louis de Froment (Conductor)
Henri Goraieb (Piano)

Robert and Clara

When Robert Schumann married Clara Wieck, he wasn't just settling down with the woman of his dreams, he was also forging one of the most important musical partnerships of his time.

Clara was a virtuoso pianist, and it was for her that he wrote much of his music.

Clara's father strongly disapproved of her relationship with the composer, and while Robert anxiously waited for him to give consent to their marriage, he wrote her a string of musical love letters.

Clara Schumann gave the premiere of the A minor piano concerto on New Years Day, 1846.

Hector Berlioz

Symphonie Fantastique
Orchestre Philharmonique des Pays de la Loire

Marc Soustrot (Conductor)

When Berlioz wrote Symphonie Fantastique, he wasn't just creating a programmatic symphonic masterpiece - he was also making one of the grandest romantic gestures of all time.

The piece follows dramatic events in the life of an artist obsessed by his beloved. A tune that represents her is threaded through the symphony in a way that was seen as structurally revolutionary at the time.

Berlioz dedicated the piece to a woman in that hope that she would fall in love with him. Unfortunately, it didn't work.