Berlioz the Critic

JULIAN RUSHTON is Emeritus Professor of Music, University of Leeds, UK. ROGER NICHOLS is an independent musicologist, writer, and translator. ROGER NICHOLS is an independent musicologist, writer, and translator. PETER BLOOM is the Grace Jarcho Ross Professor of Humanities Emeritus at Smith College.

• Translator's Preface and AcknowledgmentsSources and Abbreviations Used in the Text and NotesEditor's NoteIntroduction by Peter BloomThe Articles:1. On Imitation in Music (I)2. On Imitation in Music (II)3. Ninth Conservatoire Concert. Beethoven's Eroica and Taste in General4. Esmeralda: on Fair Artistic Judgement5. Paris Opéra: Revival of Le Siège de Corinthe6. Third Conservatoire Concert; the Critic's Life7. Le nozze de Figaro; Benefit Performance for Lablache8. Second Concert of the Gazette musicale. Pauline Garcia; Gluck's Orphée 9. Adolphe Nourrit10. Musical Instruments; Exhibition of Industrial Products11. Premiere of Lucie de Lammermoor 12. Letter to Liszt: Music in Paris and London13. Kastner's Treatise on Instrumentation14. Miscellanea; Pauline Viardot at the Théâtre-Italien15. First Conservatoire Concert; Gluck, his Critics, and Early Music (I)16. First Conservatoire Concert; Early Music (II)17. Paris Opéra: Revival of Fernand Cortez; Liszt and Batta in London18. Third Conservatoire Concert; Haydn, Rossini, Viardot19. Paris Opéra: Revival of Don Giovanni I 20. Liszt's Concerts21. Paris Opéra: Revival of Don Giovanni II22. Liszt's Concert at the Conservatoire23. Poultier's Debut in Guillaume Tell24. The Saint-Denis Organ25. Fourth Conservatoire Concert26. Cherubini27. Sixth Conservatoire Concert28. Thalberg's Concerts29. German Theatre; First Performance of Jessonda30. Castor et Pollux; the Score31. Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique: Revival of Le Déserteur32. M. Berlioz's Concert at the Théâtre-Italien33. Théâtre de l'Odéon. Premiere of Mendelssohn's Antigone34. Large-scale Concert at the Opéra: the 'Droit des pauvres'35. Michel de Glinka36. Conservatoire Concert. Spontini: La Vestale37. Cherubini's Messe du Sacre38. Music Festival in Bonn; the Beethoven Statue39. New Method of Instrumental Practice40. Inauguration of Rossini's Statue41. Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique: Revival of Zémire et Azor42. On the Harmonium43. Paris Opéra. Premiere of Rossini: Robert the Bruce44. Adolphe Sax's New Concert Hall45. To M. Friedland; Musical Life in London46. Opening of the Théâtre de la Nation47. The Opéra; Mme de Lagrange's Debut; Otello48. Distribution of Prizes at the Conservatoire (the Current State of French Music) 49. Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique; Premiere of Ambroise Thomas: Le Caïd50. Second Séance of the Société des Concerts; Beethoven, Haydn, and others51. Third Séance of the Société des Concerts; Scene in the rue Bergère52. Sixth Séance of the Société des Concerts; a Composer's Rights 53. Musical Instruments and the 'Droit des pauvres'54. The Death of Johann Strauss55. The Death of Chopin56. A Method of Telephony by M. Sudre57. Niedermeyer's Messe solennelle58. Gluck's AlcesteIndex of Names

His sharp ear and eye, unsurpassed knowledge, and addictively witty, frequently caustic yet always insightful articles bring to life the musical world of Paris and beyond. Chosen and translated with typically compelling grace by Roger Nichols...and with an eloquent introduction by Peter Bloom. A thoroughly absorbing delight from beginning to end.