Berlioz and Grand Opera

This post should, perhaps, be entitled Berlioz or Grand Opera or maybe Berlioz despite Grand Opera since, after the disastrous failure of  the composer’s first opera, Benvenuto Cellini, the French musical establishment was very chary about performing any of the his subsequent stage works. No, the ‘Grand Opera’ bit of the title refers to the works of Meyerbeer and Halévy (both very popular composers of the period) notably Robert le diable, Les Huguenots and La Juive.
As an alternative interpretation to the Anne Sophie von Otter below, here’s Janet Baker singing Le Spectre de la Rose (Nuits d’été):

…and this is a wonderfully observed cartoon by Gustave Doré of Berlioz conducting one of his larger choral pieces (look at the faces of the choir!)

Berlioz: Grande Messe des Morts: Dies irae

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Berlioz: Nuits d’été  2. Le spectre de la rose

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Halévy: La Juive Act 4:   Rachel, Quand du Seigneur

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Meyerbeer: Robert le diable Act 3:   Nonnes qui reposez

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