Franz Liszt - Orpheus, symphonic poem No. 4

Franz Liszt composed his “Orpheus“ in 1853-4, numbering it No. 4 in his cycle of 12 symphonic poems written during his time in Weimar, Germany. It was first performed on February 16, 1854, conducted by the composer, as an introduction to the first Weimar performance of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s opera “Orfeo ed Euridice“. “Orpheus“ is one of four symphonic poems Liszt composed as character sketches of men of creative genius, heroism or legend. (The other three poems are Tasso, Prometheus and Mazeppa.) In his preface Liszt describes an Etruscan vase depicting Orpheus, then extols civilizing effect on humanity. This reference to the ennobling effect of Orpheus and his art may have been derived from the Orpheus depicted by the Lyon philosopher Pierre-Simon Ballanche in “Orphée“ in 1829. “Orpheus“ is not a long work and takes the form of a gradual crescendo followed by a quiet ending which returns to the mood of the opening. Unlike many of Liszt’s other symphonic poems, the music here remains largely contemplati