Prometheus (Liszt)

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Prometheus is the title of a symphonic poem by Franz Liszt, composed between 1850 and 1855, which is based on the Greek myth, Prometheus. According to Searle, this is work S66.^[1]

1 History
2 Description
3 Discography
4 Literature
5 See also
6 External links
7 Notes
8 !

[edit] History

Prometheus, by Gustave Moreau

Between 1850 and 1855, Franz Liszt composed an overture and eight choruses with orchestra accompaniment for Johann Gottfried Herder's Der entfesselte Prometheus (Prometheus Unbound), which was a mythological work comprised of thirteen scenes.

[edit] Description

The work that was composed to to illustrate the imprisonment, pain, hope, and the final triumph of Prometheus turned out to be incomprehensible to the contemporary public due to the many dissonances that accompany the piece. The choral parts ended too soon and were unusable, while the overture acquired own life thanks to the multiple intentional executions and direction from Hans von Bülow.

As great part of the orchestral production of Liszt the Prometheus is considered today much inferior to the pianistica and relegated production to the periphery of his concert repertoire. Like in order recalling the activity of trascrittore of Franz Liszt, the organist and composer Jean Guillou has transcribed the Prometheus for organ.

[edit] Discography

Prometheus, the myth in music

Berlin Philharmonic directed by Claudio Abbado,

label SONY Classical, SK 53978-2

live recording from 4 October 1994.

Liszt, Symphonic Poems

the symphonic orchestra of Polskie Radio, directed by Michael Hálasz

label Naxos 8.550487

recorded 2-6 April 1991

Liszt, A Faust Symphony, A Dante Symphony, Les Preludes, Prometheus, (2CD)

London Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Sir Georg Solti

label Decca, 466751

recorded 13 March 2001

[edit] Literature

Müller-Reuter, Theodor. Lexikon der deutschen Konzertliteratur. Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt, 1909
Raff, Helene. "Franz Liszt und Joachim Raff im Spiegel ihrer Briefe." Die Musik. 1901-1902
Walker, Alan. Franz Liszt: The Weimar Years, 1848-1861, ISBN 0801497213
Paul Allen Bertagnolli. From overture to symphonic poem, from melodrama to choral cantata: studies of the sources for Franz Liszt’s Prometheus and his Chöre zu Herder's ‘Entfesseltem Prometheus’ Bachelor thesis, Washington University, 1998.