Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with Sir Simon Rattle

Thursday, 11 June 2026

Event times:

20:00

Event location:

National Concert Hall

Event price:

€39.00

About this event

Arguably the world’s most famous and dynamic conductor, Sir Simon Rattle reimagines two unique symphonic masterpieces by Berlioz with the internationally renowned period-instrument Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Timothy Ridout.

Inspired by Byron’s poetry, Harold in Italy is awash with unforgettable orchestral colour and incident with the prominent, expressive solo viola cast as a ‘melancholic dreamer’ traversing mountains, encountering pilgrims and a bandits’ orgy along the way.

Infatuated by the Irish actress Harriet Smithson, Berlioz poured his desire for her into the Symphonie fantastique, an epic, whirlwind ride from quiet reverie to wild abandon, through a lovelorn artist’s increasingly feverish, opium-fuelled visions culminating in a grotesque march to the hangman’s scaffold and a demonic Witches’ Sabbath.

Tickets €15, €39, €60, €74, €95

Readers are advised to check with the venue before relying on the details published here.

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