Franz Liszt - Mazeppa S. 100 (1851) Symphonic Poem No. 6

Franz Liszt (Hungarian: Liszt Ferencz, in modern usage Liszt Ferenc 22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a prolific 19th-century Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor, music teacher, arranger, organist, philanthropist, author, nationalist and a Franciscan tertiary during the Romantic era.

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Mazeppa, S.100 (1851-54) Symphonic Poem No. 6
Dedication: Princess Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (1819–87)

the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Ginandrea Noseda

Mazeppa, S. 100, is a symphonic poem composed by Franz Liszt in 1851. It is the sixth in the cycle of thirteen symphonic poems written during his time in Weimar. It tells the story of Ivan Mazepa, who seduced a noble Polish lady, and was tied naked to a wild horse that carried him to Ukraine. There, he was released by the Cossack, which later made him Hetman (military leader).

Mazepa also had inspired Victor Hugo in Les Orientales and Lord Byron for his 1819 poem Mazeppa. All the works are part of the cultural legacy of Mazeppa.

The work premiered at the Court Theatre in Weimar on April 16, 1854.

[russellthompson]

Liszt's orchestral works are criminally underrated. They are masterpieces and extremely exciting. He was a genius!

[JJTownley_Classical-Composer]

This piece alone should put to rest the accusation that Liszt is a second-rate composer. Brilliantly orchestrated, exciting and top-notch as programmatic music. A masterpiece.

[Jimyblues]

Liszt saw movies before there were movies !

[scriabinismydog]

This is stupendous, and even better than the piano version IMO.
I don't really understand why people think that Liszt wasn't a good orchestrator! Maybe because his orchestral compositions aren't famous?

[coasterdragon]

i remember absolutely LOVING the entire beginning of the piece---in fact, this whole thing really shows just how underrated Liszt was as an orchestral composer

[JJTownley_Classical-Composer]

This is one of the Transcendenal Etudes and is very effective on the piano as well.

[FreakieFan]

The pizz+col legno texture at 5:10 is so unique and cool

[hofmusikus]

00:00 La cavalcata disperata
01:05 Tema di Mazeppa (tragico)
03:35 Tema di Mazeppa (sofferente)
08:03 La caduta da cavallo e l'episodio dello stupore
10:26 I soldati trovano Mazeppa
15:35 Mazeppa in trionfo

[philjustinmusic]

I should have KNOWN it was Noseda conducting. That guy shreds every time.

[ThomasJagusch]

Sounds like a mixture of Moussorgski's Night on a Bald Mountain and Wagner's Flying Dutchman...

[lyricsronen]

What Liszt is doing here is great - the idea of describing a story with music all the way through as a pure format is groundbreaking and wonderfully written here by the great composer. But there's no doubt that this is only the beginning of a genre that is to be taken to a level scale degrees beyond Liszt's own orchestral capabilities: most notably by Richard Strauss. This is a classic case of invented vs. perfected, both equally historically important, visionary and astonishing in their execution.

[JJTownley_Classical-Composer]

Several musicologists claim that Raff and others did most of Liszt's orchestrating in these symphonic poems. I don't think so. I just believe that Liszt had the ability to cram about 36 hours of work into 24 hours, discounting a few hours for sleep

[leandrodimitry]

Hetman Ivan Mazepa (1639-1709) - leader of Cossack Ukraine (1687-1709),
His rivalry with Pedro the Great gave him fame in Europe. He was depicted as a hero in numerous works of art. Lord Byron, Victor Hugo and Juliusz Slowacki wrote poems about
Mazepa, and Piotr Tchaikovsky and Franz Liszt dedicated musical works to him. However, in the 19th century, their success as the creators of a semi-independent state in the early modern period made them an inspiration for Ukrainian national sentiment.

[vodkat]

WOW!! I think I've found my new favourite orchestral piece!!!!

[jakehouston]

Who needs tchaik when you got ma boi liszt :)

[aleksanderkalicki]

Very clever use of the col legno at 3:40.

[zenthrosrion]

The first part sounds like it would play as the villain unveils their new superwea- oh wait

[marfak]

1:13 Основная тема
2:12 Второе проведение основной темы
3:39 Тема страдающего Мазепы
4:25 Связка
4:50 Второе проведение темы страдающего Мазепы
8:22 Andante
9:11 лирическая тема
10:34 Марш Allegro
12:06 скерцо-марш

[philjustinmusic]

Liszt writing hard core metal before it was cool.

[thomsontom]

Anyone come here with S138 Mazeppa Etude for piano xDDDD??