Franz Liszt - Mazeppa, symphonic poems No. 6

"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 and it premiered at the Court Theatre in Weimar on April 16, 1854. 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. Mazepa also had inspired Victor Hugo in Les Orientales and Lord Byron for his 1819 poem "Mazeppa".
The composer follows Hugo's narrative, describing the hero's journey through the vast steppes in the first movement. The string section plays the main theme, which is transformed and distorted with six strokes of the timpani that evoke the fall of the rider. After a silence, strings, bassoon and horn soloists express astonishment of the injured, raised by the trumpets at Allegro Marziale. Mazeppa cossacks are placed in front of the army (a march is heard) and the theme of the hero signifies the end in glory.

Conductor: Bernard Haitink & London Philharmonic Orchestra.

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