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Hector Berlioz: Renaissance Italy
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Berlioz spent a month at La Côte-Saint-André, where his parents were at last delighted with their son’s success. At the back of his mind he had a large-scale composition that was to haunt him for a number of years, while his immediate thoughts were entirely with Camille, already, according to Ferdinand Hiller (her previous attachment), cooling in her affections. His journey to Italy and the 15 months he spent there were crucially formative. His mind was constantly alive to the impressions, both inspiring and disappointing, of the country and the people, their customs and way of life. He was supposed to draw inspiration from the relics of classical antiquity. These certainly intrigued him, especially where they touched upon Virgil, but his musical output was relatively small and haphazard, and his official submissions from Rome were not especially remarkable.
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Berlioz spent 15 months in Rome. On his way there he visited his parents who seemed to have forgiven him for not studying medicine. They could now be proud because their son was so successful. In Italy Berlioz did not write much music. He did not like Italian music or Italian art, but he was inspired by the countryside, the sun, the sea, the people he met: sailors, peasants, sculptors, travellers. He did not like the city of Rome, although he did like Florence.
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Berlioz continued to travel throughout his stay in Italy. He visited Pompeii, Naples, Milan, Tivoli, Florence, Turin and Genoa. Italy was important in providing Berlioz with experiences that would be impossible in France. At times, it was as if he himself was actually experiencing the Romantic tales of Byron in person; consorting with brigands, corsairs, and peasants.[6] In November 1832 he returned to Paris to promote his music, after spending 15 months in Italy, nearly killing his former fiancée’s family, and discovering a deeper romantic side of himself that would continue to affect his music forever.
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By July 1832, Berlioz had returned to La Côte Saint André for a home visit. He had spent a year in Italy, had seen much, composed a number of important things, but left Rome without regrets, and found the familiar landscape near his home more fascinating than anything Italy could show.
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Renaissance Italy