Beatrice and Benedict

The plays of William Shakespeare were greatly admired by the French composer Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) and they inspired many of his works. The two-act opera ‘Beatrice and Benedict’ is based on the play ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ although Berlioz adapts Shakespeare’s text quite freely. Presumably Shakespeare’s title was not sufficiently grandiose for Berlioz and so the opera takes its name from the two leading characters. The opera, which had its first performance in 1862 conducted by the composer, was the last of Berlioz’ compositions. It is very light-hearted and this spirit is captured in the overture, which is based to a large extent on themes which reappear later in the opera.

This arrangement for brass band was used as the test-piece for the Championship Section of the 1980 regional qualifying rounds of the National Brass Band Championships.