A French volcano!

At about four minutes into this clip you will recognize a certain similarity with the "Dies Irae" from the Requiem. This is an early work and some of the writing is jingoistic, but none the less the inspiration is there. A Romantic volcano ready to explode upon the scene!

It's a good thing both for us and the medical profession at the time that he didn't stick to his father's determination to see his son become a doctor! One cadaver and according to what he wrote in his Memoirs, he jumped out of the nearest window! He also wrote about his legendary fights with Cherubini(his teacher) as the elder composer was determined to set his student on the "right" narrow minded path. Aren't we glad he won....well sort of, he didn't quite graduate!