Liszt – Mazeppa (Symphonic Poem No. 6, S. 100)

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Mazeppa is a symphonic poem (German: Symphonische Dichtung) composed by Franz Liszt between the years 1851 to 1854 for orchestra. Mazeppa, S. 100, is the sixth in the cycle of twelve symphonic poems written during Liszt’s time in Weimar, however a thirteenth composition was added to his collection in 1882. Mazeppa is based on the poem of the same title written by Victor Hugo in 1829. The work premiered at the Court Theatre in Weimar on April 16, 1854.
At the age of fifteen (1826), Liszt published twelve piano pieces titled Étude en 48 exercises dans les tons majeur et mineurs. In 1838, he revisited these compositions and republished the collection with a new title, 24 Grandes études. Seven years later (1840), Liszt reworked the fourth étude and titled it Mazeppa. This reimagined étude was reworked to express the elements of Victor Hugo’s poem from the 1829 collection Les Orientales. Mazeppa was reworked for a final time in 1851 and the new version was given the title Transcendental Étude No. 4. The final version of the piano étude led to the orchestrated symphonic poem Mazeppa.
Mazeppa was first written as an epic poem by Lord Byron in 1818, however, Liszt’s Mazeppa is based upon a much shorter account written by Victor Hugo in 1829 published within a collection of poems entitled Les Orientales. Both Mazeppa writings are based on the life of Ivan Stepanovich Mazepa-Koledinsky (c. 1632–1709) and Hugo’s poem is included in Liszt’s original manuscript.
The orchestra of this piece consists of piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, bass clarinet, three bassoons, four French horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, and strings.
The symphonic poem is divided into two distinct sections: Mazeppa’s ride (Section 1) and the March (Section 2). According to Liszt, it is possible to play the march, section two, without section one, the ride, as it was the material first composed for the piano piece.
Mazeppa begins similarly to the piano version, but it has an extended introduction. The composer follows Hugo’s narrative, describing the hero’s journey through the vast steppes in the first movement. The melodies within symphonic poems are of the highest importance, as they express the emotions experienced by the characters within the story.
The theme is expounded upon throughout the work as Mazeppa, the character, experiences differing situations and emotions. This theme is transformed and distorted with six strokes of the timpani that evoke the fall of the rider at the end of section one, the ride.[6] After a silence, strings, bassoon and horn soloists express astonishment of the injured, raised by the trumpets at Allegro Marziale. Mazeppa and his cossacks are placed in front of the army (a march is heard) and the return of the hero’s theme signifies his end in glory.

Performers:
– Wiener Philharmoniker
– Christoph Eschenbach (Conductor)