# Berlioz, Le Carnaval romain, Op. 9

The lyrical viola melody near the opening, one of the few moments in the repertoire where the section carries the tune outright.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Hector Berlioz

- **Work:** Le Carnaval romain, Op. 9

- **Era:** Romantic (c. 1820–1880)

- **Composed:** 1844

- **Clef:** Alto clef

- **Difficulty:** Advanced

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

Sustained and singing, with the bow change hidden. The section must match note lengths exactly or the line fragments.

## Where it goes wrong

The melody sits where viola intonation is most exposed; practise it slowly against a drone.

## Style

Warm and unhurried. It is a love theme, and playing it briskly is the usual misjudgement.

## Techniques

overture, audition, lyrical, section

This public reference contains work information and original practice notes. It does not publish the excerpt notation or grant permission to copy a score. Score access and rights depend on the edition and jurisdiction.

## Related excerpts

- [Brahms: Haydn Variations, Variation VI](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/viola/brahms-haydn-variations-viola), A standard Brahms viola excerpt testing rhythmic precision and a full sound in the middle register. Advanced; Romantic; Alto clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/viola/mendelssohn-midsummer-scherzo-viola), The viola benchmark for a light, fast, even stroke at a quiet dynamic. Appears on almost every audition list. Audition; Romantic; Alto clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Smetana: The Bartered Bride, Overture](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/viola/smetana-bartered-bride-viola), Sustained fast fugal string writing at a tempo that leaves no margin. A stamina and clarity test. Audition; Romantic; Alto clef. Standard audition excerpt.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/viola/berlioz-roman-carnival-viola