Programme

Berlioz Symphonie fantastique (from memory)

Mathew Baynton actor
Nicholas Collon conductor
Jane Mitchell & James Bonas directors
Kate Wicks production designer
Will Reynolds consultant designer
Cydney Uffindell-Phillips movement consultant

Concept and script by Jane Mitchell

From the orchestra

Waltz through a glittering ball, enter a feverish dream, march to your own execution, and spin into dark delirium at a witches’ sabbath. Take on the opium-infused visions of a tortured artist haunted by unrequited passion in this Orchestral Theatre production of Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.

Inspired by the composer’s own romantic infatuation with a young actress, this epoch-making work unfolds as a cinematic fantasy full of wild imagination and demonic madness – by turns gorgeous and grotesque.

Aurora Orchestra and actor Mathew Baynton (Horrible Histories, Ghosts) invite you on a creative orchestral journey through Berlioz’s hallucinatory tale of ecstasy and despair, passion and obsession. This unique theatrical concert interweaves a memorised performance of the Symphonie fantastique with stage design, lighting, movement and Berlioz’s own words about his music, alongside a presentation of the work’s musical ideas with live excerpts. Premiered at the BBC Proms in 2019 as one of the most talked-about orchestral events of the past decade, the production return to London this autumn for a special one-off performance at the Royal Festival Hall.

“Deeply felt, immersive music music-making at its best” (★★★★★ The Evening Standard)

“Not just by heart, but with heart.” (★★★★ The Times)

“A triumph, a wacky, psychedlic ride. Truly Berlioz on acid.” (★★★★ Bachtrack)