#dante symphony

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Franz Liszt (1811-86) - A Symphony to Dante's Divine Comedy, S. 109, Inferno: I. Lento - Allegro frenetico - Più mosso - Presto molto - Lento. Performed by François-Xavier Roth/Les Siècles on period instruments.

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Chorus of the Hungarian Radio & the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra - Dante Symphony

Qualiton

1961

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Franz Liszt, Dante Symphony, S. 109, I: Inferno, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim, cond.

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Liszt - Dante Symphony

Back in high school, I remember kids talking about the intense death metal bands that they listened to. And on the one hand I felt that I couldn’t relate because I didn’t recognize any of their names or logos and the rushing drums didn’t click with me, nor did the guttural vocals. It didn’t feel intense to me. It was almost underwhelming. But getting more and more into classical, I had fallen in love with 19th century program music, the louder the better, and nothing got my blood rushing more than Liszt’s Dante Symphony. And sure it isn’t a real symphony, rather it’s two tone poems tied together thematically, but it is everything one would expect from Liszt and the Romantic era: Music that’s telling a story, that enthralls and dazzles the audience, that goes against traditional form, and that pushes the limit on harmony. The first movement, the Inferno, is a large study in tritones, chromaticism, dissonant chords, and of course, diabolical drama. Why is hell, the dimension of evil and pain, so cool? It really is Liszt at his most “heavy metal” with the blaring horns, marching rhythm, scratching violins, and clashing cymbals. As the drama quiets down, the orchestra goes into a slower section, an angular melody slowly shapes like a river eroding at stone to make a smoother and more lyrical wave. With a creeping march, the dance of the devils return and the movement, despite its more complicated harmonies, ends with a loud statement of parallel fifths. The second movement, Purgatorio, is a stark contrast to the first. It opens quietly, contemplatively, slowly exploring its easier-on-the-ears main melody as Dante and Virgil ascend Mount Purgatory. The next subject is lamenting fugue that builds up to a loud and dramatic climax, showing Liszt’s underrated skills with counterpoint. The first section repeats, and then we hear angels singing in the distance. Critics felt that the symphony was unbalanced because it only depicted two of the three books in the Divine Comedy, and that Paradise was referred to with a comparatively short and soft women’s choir. Liszt’s justification for this choice came from Wagner, who insisted that no one could adequately recreate the sound of heaven in music. In my opinion, I’m sure Liszt could have done a pretty good job if he tried. But overall, what we get is the journey through the horrors of hell, and the slow climb toward something better, transcendence we can barely imagine.

Movements:

1. Inferno

2. Purgatorio - Magnificat

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Magyar Rádió És Televízió Énekkara & The Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra -  Dante Symphony

Rifi Westminster

1961

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Franz Liszt (1811-86) - "Dante" Symphony, S. 109, I. Inferno - IV. Allegro - Alla breve - Più mosso - Alla breve. Performed by F.X. Roth/Les Siècles.

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[saintsparodyofblunderbuss]

This piece and story... Is one of, if not, thee most emotional and spiritual piece of music and story I ever come across in my life besides what resides in the Bible. I tried my best to do this piece justice by adding the visceral artwork(edited by me yet was originally all created by the one and only Gustave Dore) which was painted in the 1800's for the story of the Divina Commedia (the book that Liszts Dante Symphony is based off which was written in 1308).... The Circle of Lust in this symphony... is most definitely in the top three for being one of the most seductively and soul possesingly beautiful pieces I have ever had my ears hear... Ultimately, through all the pain, torture, disgust, and sadness that Dante experiences through this... Its all for Love in the end. All rights belong to Daniel Barenboim and the Berlin Philharmonic.