Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

In the fourth movement of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, the composer’s fevered dream takes a dark and theatrical turn. Titled March to the Scaffold, this movement imagines the artist being led to execution, with the orchestra transforming the scene into a vivid procession of pounding rhythms, ominous brass, and mounting intensity.

This live recording captures the Charleston Symphony in one of the work’s most electrifying moments. As the march drives forward, Berlioz’s recurring love theme briefly appears like a final memory before the fatal blow. Bold, cinematic, and unforgettable, March to the Scaffold offers a dramatic glimpse into the haunted world of Symphonie fantastique.