Classical Instrumental Works for Orchestra

Originally intended for solo violin and orchestra, Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) later determined that the five Spanish folk melodies used in each of the movements of his Capriccio Espagnol woul...

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov's (1844-1908) overture Russian Easter Festival was written in 1888, at the same time as the composer's well-known suite for orchestra, Scheherazade. Both works include short vi...

The Symphony No. 3 in C minor, popularly known as the "Organ Symphony", was completed in 1886 at what could be considered the artistic peak of Saint-Saëns' (1835-1921) career. The composer said of the...

Camille Saint-Saëns' (1835-1921) opera SAMSON ET DALILA, Op. 47 tells the biblical story of Delilah's betrayal of Samson. Originally conceived as an oratorio due to Saint-Saëns' admiration of such wor...

Camille Saint-Saëns' (1835-1921) opera SAMSON ET DALILA, Op. 47 tells the biblical story of Delilah's betrayal of Samson. Originally conceived as an oratorio due to Saint-Saëns' admiration of such wor...

In 1888, Erik Satie (1866-1925) completed his TROIS GYMNOPÉDIES, three lilting, dream-like exercises for solo piano. They were published separately, the second one appearing last in 1895. Working as a...

The first significant success for Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), KARELIA MUSIC was commissioned for a lottery sponsored by the Viipuri Students' Association to foster education in Vyborg Province. Its fir...

The first significant success for Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), KARELIA MUSIC was commissioned for a lottery sponsored by the Viipuri Students' Association to foster education in Vyborg Province. Its fir...

Started in 1898, Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) completed and premiered his SYMPHONY No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39, the following year when only 33 years old. Dissatisfied with the original version, which has b...

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) composed his three-movement Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52 between 1906 and 1907, with the work receiving its premiere by the Helsinki Philharmonic Society under the compo...

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) composed his three-movement Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52 between 1906 and 1907, with the work receiving its premiere by the Helsinki Philharmonic Society under the compo...

Kuolema ("Death" in Finnish) is a play by Arvid Järnefelt. Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) happened to be Järnefelt's brother-in-law, and he composed incidental music to the play under the same title (Kuole...

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) first composed the tone poem En Saga, Op. 9 in 1892, with the work premiering on February 16th, 1893, with Sibelius conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic. While one might imag...

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) first composed the tone poem En Saga, Op. 9 in 1892, with the work premiering on February 16th, 1893, with Sibelius conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic. While one might imag...

Má vlast (My Fatherland or My Country) is a collection of six symphonic poems composed by Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) between 1874 and 1879. Conceived as individual works, though commonly presented as...

Má vlast (My Fatherland or My Country) is a collection of six symphonic poems composed by Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) between 1874 and 1879. Conceived as individual works, though commonly presented as...

An der Schönen Blauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), Op. 314, written by Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) is one of the most popular works in classical music, and remains well-known in popular cul...

An der Schönen Blauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), Op. 314, written by Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) is one of the most popular works in classical music, and remains well-known in popular cul...

Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899) wrote the KAISER-WALZER, Op. 437 (EMPEROR WALTZES) to celebrate the toast of friendship that Franz Joseph I extended when he visited Wilhelm II in 1889. Fritz Simrock,...

Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899) wrote the KAISER-WALZER, Op. 437 (EMPEROR WALTZES) to celebrate the toast of friendship that Franz Joseph I extended when he visited Wilhelm II in 1889. Fritz Simrock,...

The comic operetta DIE FLEDERMAUS (The Bat) by Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) is the composer's best known operetta, though "The Waltz King" is perhaps better remembered yet for his contribut...

Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) wrote FURIOSO POLKA, OP. 260, in 1861, at a time when these quick dances thrived in Viennese ballrooms. In the subtitle "quasi Galopp", he indicated that the piece should...

THE GYPSY BARON (DER ZIGEUNERBARON) is an operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) which premiered at the Theater an der Wien on October 24, 1885. Its libretto, penned by the author Ign...

THE QUEEN'S LACE HANDKERCHIEF (DAS SPITZENTUCH DER KÖNIGIN) is an operetta by Johann Strauss II (1825-1899). The libretto by Heinrich Bohrmann-Riegen and Richard Genée is based on a fictional story ab...

THE QUEEN'S LACE HANDKERCHIEF (DAS SPITZENTUCH DER KÖNIGIN) is an operetta by Johann Strauss II (1825-1899). The libretto by Heinrich Bohrmann-Riegen and Richard Genée is based on a fictional story ab...