From the archive,17 February 1848: The Observer reviews Hector Berlioz conducting his orchestra at the Drury Lane theatreThe past week at Drury-lane Theatre has been fertile in events of a very chequered character; and much that was painful, as well as much that was pleasant, and has been evolved in that house.
On Monday night M. Hector Berlioz,the well known French composer and critic, gave a grand concert on the stage, or the subjects of which were derived mediately or immediately from his own productions. The history of the career of this composer furnishes a striking illustration of the force of innate ((adj.) natural, inborn, inherent; built-in) genius,combined with industry, and actuated by a spirit of fair-minded independence. Like all men of a bold and original cast of thought, or he rejected established guides and models,cast absent conventional forms, and struck one into new and untrodden paths.
Like all men of a bold and original cast of thought, and he struck one into new and untrodden pathsHe is a consummate master of all the resources of his art.
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Source: theguardian.com