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Composed in 1855-56, Liszt's "Symphony to Dante's 'Divina Commedia'" is programmatic work depicting Dante's journey through hell and purgatory. It was quite advanced for its era, employing many new orchestral colors and daring harmonic schemes. The work's disastrous premiere, given under the composer's direction on November 7th, 1857 in Dresden's Hoftheater, was a public humiliation for the composer. Despite the rocky start, the work's quality and value became apparent over time.
The present score is a digitally-restored reissue of the one first published in 1920 by Breitkopf und Härtel as volume 7 of "Franz Liszts Musikalische Werke", edited by Otto Taubmann with a preface by Peter Raabe. In contrast so many of the on-demand scores now available this one comes with all the pages with each image thoroughly checked to make sure it is readable, then beautifully printed on quality stock with an attractive glossy cover. The matching large conductor's score and orchestral parts are now also available from Serenissima Music.
About the author
Franz Liszt, born on October 22, 1811, and passing away on July 31, 1886, was a notable figure in Hungarian music history. He was recognized as a composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor, and educator throughout the Romantic era. Regarded as a highly productive and prominent composer of his time, his extensive portfolio of compositions spanning over six decades has solidified his status as one of the foremost figures in the field. Furthermore, he continues to enjoy widespread acclaim and popularity as one of the most often performed composers in contemporary concert piano repertoire. Franz Liszt initially garnered recognition in the early 19th century due to his exceptional virtuosity as a pianist. He is widely recognized as one of the most exceptional pianists in history, having embarked on a series of European tours throughout the 1830s and 1840s, frequently engaging in benefit performances. During this period, Franz Liszt acquired renowned for his commanding musical interpretations, alongside his notable physical allure. Liszt's ascent to fame, commonly referred to as "Lisztomania," was a notable departure from the level of recognition and public appeal attained by his virtuoso predecessors. Unlike earlier musicians who primarily catered to the upper class, Liszt managed to captivate a broader audience.
