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A Symphony to Dante's Divine Comedy is a program "symphony," composed between 1855 and 1856 and performed for the first time in Dresden in November 1857, under the direction of the composer himself.
The work is inspired by the first two cantos of Dante's Commedia, Inferno and Purgatorio.
now I ask you, do you consider it more a symphony or a symphonic poem? And how many similarities do you perceive with Faust?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8huOjLi2YE
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A symphonic poem by Liszt is "Tasso. Lament and Triumph"
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In my opinion, some historical references wouldn't hurt; one would need to understand the differences between program symphony and symphonic poem. The former was taken up by Liszt specifically following the publication of an essay on Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique.
He argues that program music is not “descriptive” but “poetic,” as the composer must indicate certain thoughts and images established by the connection between music and literature, and this conception fits perfectly within the Romantic aspiration for the convergence of the arts under the aegis of music. To elevate this musical genre, Liszt created a new form called the Symphonic Poem. While the program symphony is articulated in several separate and distinct movements, the symphonic poem instead develops in a single vast movement with various sections differentiated by character and tempo, with themes that are varied, transformed in expressive characters, or repeated in a different tempo according to the poetic content that Liszt calls the “poetic idea.” At the origin of most of the 12 symphonic poems composed by Liszt in Weimar between 1848 and 1858, there is a literary work; for example:
• “Berg symphonie” (1848-49) draws inspiration from an ode by V. Hugo and deals with the antithesis between nature and humanity
• ”Tasso” (1848) is taken from a drama by Goethe and is based on the theme of the artist, the misunderstood genius
• “Les preludes” (1854), the inspiring theme is taken from an ode by A. Lamartine
• ”Prometheus” (1850), “Mazepa” (1851), “Hamlet” (1858), “The Battle of the Huns” (1857) are inspired by a fresco by a German painter depicting the epic battle between the Huns and the Romans
• “Orpheus” (1853-54) based on an idea from Gluck's Orfeo.
Liszt's most vast and demanding symphonic work consists of the “Faust Symphony” in three psychological portraits (1854-1857). It consists of 3 symphonic poems referring to the three protagonists of Goethe's Faust (Faust, Margherita, and Mephistopheles). The Dante Divine Comedy symphony (1855-56) with Inferno/Purgatorio features a closing chorus for female voices on the text of the Magnificat.
The last symphonic poem draws inspiration from a painting titled “From the Cradle to the Grave” (1881-82).
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thanks valchiria
