Hector Berlioz was a French composer born on December 11, 1803, in La Côte-Saint-André. He is best known for his innovative orchestration and dramatic compositions, which helped shape the Romantic music era. His most famous work, the Symphonie Fantastique, is a programmatic symphony that tells a vivid story through music. Berlioz was also a music critic and wrote extensively about music theory and composition. He was influenced by literary works, particularly those of Shakespeare and Goethe. Despite facing challenges in gaining recognition during his lifetime, Berlioz's influence on later composers, such as Wagner and Mahler, is widely acknowledged.