Hector Berlioz

Louis-Hector Berlioz (11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869) was a French Romantic composer and conductor. He produced orchestral works like Symphonie fantastique, choral pieces such as Requiem, three operas including Les Troyens, and other hybrid genre works. An advocate of non-traditional music, he also won the Prix de Rome in 1830. His compositions were divisive; some saw them as innovative, while others criticized their structure. Berlioz also gained recognition as a conductor and musical journalist, authoring influential works like Treatise on Instrumentation.