Hector Berlioz was born at La Cote-Saint-Andre (near Grenoble) on 11 December 1803.

A massive Shakespeare fan (and literature in general), England’s Bard was a major muse for Berlioz, and he composed several works based on Shakespeare’s plays.

The Archive contains 100s of interesting stories about Berlioz, including reports about the five times when he lived and worked in England.

So to celebrate the day, here is a very favourable newspaper review (published in The Manchester Courier in 1839) of his dramatic symphony, ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser – Saturday 07 December 1839

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/18391207/036/0007