Classical Instrumental Works for Orchestra

César Franck's (1822-1890) SYMPHONY IN D MINOR is the French composer's best-known orchestral work. In three, rather than four, movements, the work's shape is attained through thematic transformation,...

A radical innovation when it first appeared in 1762, Christoph Willibald Gluck's (1714-1787) dramatic opera based on the Greek myth of Orpheus resurfaced in a variety of later editions at the hand of...

The great Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's poem "Peer Gynt," one of his greatest works, tells the tale of a young man so full of bravado, exuberance of spirit, wanderlust, and wantonness, that his...

The great Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's poem "Peer Gynt," one of his greatest works, tells the tale of a young man so full of bravado, exuberance of spirit, wanderlust, and wantonness, that his...

The great Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's poem "Peer Gynt," one of his greatest works, tells the tale of a young man so full of bravado, exuberance of spirit, wanderlust, and wantonness, that his...

Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer Franz Liszt (1811-1886) began to develop the concept of the symphonic poem (symphonische dichtung; poème symphonique) following his 1847 retirement from concert...

Published in 1874, this fourth of seven orchestral suites by Jules Massenet (1842-1912) premiered on March 22, 1874, in Paris at Châtelet, Colonne conducting. Titled "Scènes pittoresques," t...

Published in 1874, this fourth of seven orchestral suites by Jules Massenet (1842-1912) premiered on March 22, 1874, in Paris at Châtelet, Colonne conducting. Titled "Scènes pittoresques," t...

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) wrote his Symphony No. 5 in D, Op. 107 'Reformation' in 1830. It was composed to honor the 300th anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran ho...

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) wrote his Symphony No. 5 in D, Op. 107 'Reformation' in 1830. It was composed to honor the 300th anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran ho...

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) wrote music for William Shakespeare's play A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM on two separate occasions. He first wrote the concert overture in E Major, Op. 21 in 1826 at the age...

Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impressario) is a comic singspiel written by W.A. Mozart (1756-1791) as "a parody on the vanity of singers," who argue over status and pay. Described by Mozart as "comedy w...

Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impressario) is a comic singspiel written by W.A. Mozart (1756-1791) as "a parody on the vanity of singers," who argue over status and pay. Described by Mozart as "comedy w...

Sometimes referred to as the "Great G minor symphony" to distinguish it from the the "Little G minor symphony" (No. 25), SYMPHONY NO. 40 in G minor, K. 550 was completed on July 25...

Mikhail Tushmalov (1861-1896), a Russian Georgian whose career eventually led to posts in Warsaw and Tiflis (Tbilisi) conducting opera, was a student of Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov and is most widely disc...

The Sultan Schariar, convinced of the falseness and faithlessness of women, vowed to kill each of his wives after their bridal night. The Sultana Scheherazade, however, saved her life by interested th...

The Snow Maiden is an opera in four acts with a prologue by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, composed during 1880-1881. The Russian libretto, by the composer, is based on the like-named play by Alexander Ostr...

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...

Written in 1874, the orchestral tone poem Danse Macabre Op. 40 by Camille Saint -Saëns (1835-1921) premiered in January of 1875 and was not well received by the audience. 21st century scholar Roger Ni...

Written in 1874, the orchestral tone poem Danse Macabre Op. 40 by Camille Saint -Saëns (1835-1921) premiered in January of 1875 and was not well received by the audience. 21st century scholar Roger Ni...

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...

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...

SPHÄRENKLÄNGE WALZER (MUSIC OF THE SPHERES WALTZ), OP. 235 was composed by Josef Strauss (1827-1870) for a medical association ball in 1868. The first performance took place at that event on January 2...