Rêverie et Caprice

Rêverie et Caprice is the only work for solo violin left by Hector Berlioz (1803-1869). As a work for string instrument, Berlioz composed the symphony Harold en Italie (1834) for Paganini, but this was strictly a "symphony" with solo viola, and not, strictly speaking, a concerto for string instrument. Consequently, Harold en Italie did not satisfy Paganini. In contrast, Rêverie et Caprice is a pure virtuoso piece for solo violin.

Two different versions of this work exist: one with piano accompaniment and one with orchestral accompaniment. They were published almost simultaneously, and Berlioz himself did not state which was the original, so it is not definitively known. However, the orchestral version was performed more frequently during Berlioz's lifetime, suggesting that the composer himself preferred it.

This work was originally composed in 1836 as a romance sung by Thérèse in the first act of the opera Benvenuto Cellini. However, that romance was eventually replaced by a different aria, so Berlioz arranged it into a work for solo violin between 1838 and 1841. Berlioz largely replaced the vocal line with the violin, but the key was changed from B minor to F-sharp minor, and a piccolo and two horns were added to the orchestra.

Berlioz initially prepared this work for the Belgian violinist Alexandre-Joseph Artôt, a friend from his time at the Paris Conservatoire, but it was ultimately premiered by Delphin Alard in Paris in February 1842. Subsequently, the work has been performed by renowned violinists such as Ferdinand David (February 1843, Leipzig), Joseph Joachim (April 1854, Hanover), and Henryk Wieniawski (December 1867, Saint Petersburg). However, today, like many of Berlioz's works, it does not receive as many performance opportunities as its true merit deserves.