Louis Hector Berlioz was born at La Côte Saint-André near Grenoble on
December 11th, 1803. His father was a physician, and wished his son to
follow his profession. So Hector was sent to Paris to study. Instead of
studying medicine he commenced to compose. A mass of his was performed
at Saint-Roch in 1824. In 1826 he sought to enter the Conservatoire, but
failed in the preliminary examination. In 1827, 1828 and 1829, he
competed for the Prix de Rome, and failed. In 1830 he finally secured
it. While in Rome in 1831, he composed the "Symphonie Fantastique" and
"Lélio." In 1833 he married his adored Miss Smithson. In 1834 "Harold"
was performed for the first time. "The Requiem" was composed in 1836,
"Benvenuto Cellini" in 1837, "Roméo" in 1839. In 1840 Berlioz made his
first journey to Brussels; in 1842-43 he toured Germany. The "Carnaval
Romain" was performed in 1844. In 1845-46 Berlioz gave numerous concerts
in France, and toured Austria and Hungary. In December of the latter
year "La Damnation de Faust" failed at the Opéra Comique. In 1847
Berlioz went to Russia and to England for the first time. In 1849 he
began work on his "Te Deum"; in 1850 on "L'Enfance du Christ." The next
years were spent in conducting. In 1854, on the death of his wife, he
married Mlle. Récio. In 1856 we find Berlioz in North Germany, Brussels
and London. He began the composition of "Les Troyens" the same year. At
its performance in 1863, the work failed. His last years were darkened
by the death of his wife and son. He died March 8th, 1869, in Paris.