Instruments

All period instruments orchestras performing nowadays are accustomed to choose a set of instruments for every program that is as close as possible to the one used in the times and cities where the works were first performed. For the Romantic Repertoire this is extremely difficult because of the incredible variety of the instrumets (especially the winds) played in Europe during the 19th century – therefore, trying to choose the “correct” ones is almost impossible and it often means experimenting very much and not reaching a stable and characteristic sound of the orchestra.

Symphonie Fantastique therefore decided to perform exclusively on Viennese instruments of the 1850s in order to experiment on what might have been the real sound of an Ensemble in this city at this time.