Hector Berlioz and Louise Bertin, a friendship in music by Brenda Poupard and Anne Louise Bourion

Around the figures of Hector Berlioz and Louise Bertin unfolds a fascinating web of connections and resonances. In 1841, at nearly 40 years old, the composer of Harold in Italy published Les Nuits d’été, a series of six songs based on poems by Théophile Gautier. This cycle was dedicated to Louise Bertin (1805–1877), a French poet and composer two years younger than Berlioz, whose 220th anniversary we are celebrating. While conducting rehearsals for one of Bertin’s operas, Berlioz described her music in his correspondence as “strong and original.” 

Mezzo-soprano Brenda Poupard and pianist Anne-Louise Bourion pay tribute to this remarkable friendship and musical kinship through a programme combining works by Louise Bertin and Hector Berlioz. 

This concert is also an opportunity to shed light on the often-overlooked contributions of female composers, bringing their voices to the forefront. Louise Bertin’s compositions, marked by their depth and innovation, are gradually receiving the recognition they deserve. By presenting her work alongside that of Berlioz, this recital not only honours her legacy but also celebrates a rich and intertwined chapter of 19th-century music history.