Myth and Music

ODYSSEUS (see also CIRCE, PENELOPE)
Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria (1640), 164:00, Monteverdi, Claudio (1567-1643).
An opera on the Odyssey 13-23 following the plot rather closely.
o HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 901427/9 (3), K617 091/3 (3), NUOVA ERA 7103 (3), ORFEO 528003 (3), TELDEC 35024 (3), 42496 (3), 91342 (with his Orfeo), DVD VIRGIN 90613VHS VAI 1973

Le Retour d'Ulysse (1862), Hervé, (Florimond Ronger) (1825-1892).
A comic operetta known for its gaiety and zaniness by the father of French operetta.
o GAIETE LYRIQUE 202212, MUSIDISC 202212

Le Chant de Euryclee (1869), Gounod, Charles (1818-1893).
A song from Vingt Melodies pour Chant et Piano, 1er Recueil.
o LIGIA DIGITAL 0201010

Odysseus (1872), 107:00, Bruch, Max (1838-1920).
A choral work for soloists, chorus, and orchestra on Odysseus’ adventures throughout the Odyssey.
o KOCH SCHWANN 6557 (2), PREISER 89210 (with his Achilleus)

The Lotos Eaters (1892), 32:30, Parry, C. Hubert (1848-1918).
A work for soprano, chorus, and orchestra on Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem from the Odyssey 9.
o CHANDOS 8990

Ithaca (1904), 9:00, Stenhammar, Wilhelm (1871-1927).
A tone poem for orchestra and baritone on a section of Oscar Levertin's poem about Odysseus' homesickness.
o CAPRICE 21358

From Odysseus' Voyages (1905), 56:00, Boehe, Ernst (1880-1938).
The first three parts of an orchestral work closely following Homer.
o CPO 999875

Lotus Land (c.1908), 6:00, Scott, Cyril (1879-1970).
A piano piece later transcribed for piano and flute from Two Pieces op. 47.
o ASV 862 ("The Reed of Pan"), BIS 1110, CAMBRIA 1086, CAROLE KOENIG ("After Shadows"), DANACORD 389 ("Rarities of Piano Music"), ETCETERA 1132, GUILD 7230, ORFEO 48831 ("Transcriptionen")

Le Retour (1912), 5:30, Boulanger, Lili (1893-1918).
A song on Georges Delaquys' poem about Odysseus' return to Ithaca.
o BAYER 100041 (with her Les Sirènes)

Pénélope (1912), 124:00, Fauré, Gabriel (1845-1924).
An opera on the second half of the Odyssey about Penelope's trials while awaiting Odysseus' return.
o ERATO 45405 (2), 88205 (2), ANGEL 47939 (prelude, with his Prometheus), CHANDOS 9416 (prelude), NAXOS 8.553740 (prelude), PIERRE VERANY 792051 (prelude)

Metopy (1915), 15:30, Szymanowski, Karol (1882-1937).
A cycle of piano pieces evoking females (Calypso, Nausicaa, Sirens) encountered in the Odyssey.
o ALBANY TROY 203, ARTS 47215, DOREMI 9305 ("Fialkowska Plays Szymanowski"), HYPERION 66409, LONDON 436451, NAXOS 8.553016, NIMBUS 5435/6 (2), OPENING DAY 9305

Elpénor (1920s), Jaubert, Maurice (1900-1940).
Two songs for soprano, piano, and string quartet on Jean Giraudoux' poems about Odysseus' comrade.
o ARIA 592300 ("Felicity Lott"), FNAC 592300 ("Felicity Lott-French Songs")

Lotusland (1922), 16:00, Kleven, Arvid (1899-1929).
A symphonic poem about this mythical land, composed in a rather dreamy, languid mood.
o SIMAX 3106

Elpénor (1937), 8:00, Roussel, Albert (1869-1937).
Incidental music for flute and string quartet for Joseph Weterings' radio script about Elpenor's fidelity to Climene.
o ADDA 581064, KONTRAPUNKT 32218 (2), OLYMPIA 460

Lied der Circe (1939), Zemlinsky, Alexander.
An aria from an uncompleted opera based on the Odyssey in which Circe states her preference to live without men.
o THOROFON 2376

The Return of Odysseus (1942), 24:00, Skalkottas, Nikos (1904-1949).
A symphony whose musical themes represent the sea, Odysseus' joy to be home, and his slaying of the suitors.
o AGORA 009 (two-piano version), BIS 1333, KOCH SCHWANN 311110

The Rescue of Penelope (1943), 38:00, Britten, Benjamin (1913-1976).
A concert version of music for Edward Sackville-West's The Rescue about Odysseus' return to Ithaca.
o ERATO 12713 (with his Phaedra)

Ulysses at the Edge of the World (1955), 6:30, Partch, Harry (1901-1974).
A work for Partch instruments, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, and voice about Odysseus' last journey.
o CRI 750 ("Gay American Composers, Vol. 2"), 751(with his Castor and Pollux)

Nausicaa (1961), 60:00, Glanville-Hicks, Peggy (1912-1990).
Music from an opera on Robert Graves' novel Homer's Daughter suggesting her as author of the Odyssey.
o CRI 695

Nausikaa Alone (1963), 21:00, Lidholm, Ingvar (1921-).
A work for soprano, chorus, and orchestra on a part of Eyvind Johnson's novel Return to Ithaca, in which Nausicaa reflects upon her past premonitions of Odysseus' coming and her hope of marriage upon his arrival.
o CAPRICE 21366

Siebzehn Tage und Vier Minuten (1966), 19:30, Egk, Werner (1901-1983).
Orchestral music for Calderon's El Mayor Encanto Amor which retraces Odysseus' adventures with Circe.
o BERLIN CLASSICS 9209

Tales of Brave Ulysses (1967), 3:00, Clapton, Eric (1945-).
A rock song for the group Cream about the storm-tossed Odysseus, with references to the Sirens and Aphrodite.
o POLYDOR 823636 ("Disraeli Gears"), 811639 ("Strange Brew")

Ulisse (1968), 151:00, Dallapiccola, Luigi (1904-1975).
An opera on a silent film of the Odyssey about man's search for self-identity, truth, and God.
o NAIVE 4960 (2), STRADIVARIUS 10063 (2)

Odysseus (Symphony No. 25) (1973), 35:00, Hovhaness, Alan (1911-2000).
A work about Odysseus' spiritual journey and homecoming, alternating love songs with narrative.
o CRYSTAL 807

Metamorphoses/Dance (1974), 18:00, Goehr, Alexander (1932-).
An imaginary ballet on the Odyssey about Circe's encounter with Odysseus' men.
o UNICORN-KANCHANA UKCD-2039

The Odyssey (1976), 48:00, Bedford, David (1937-).
Music for electronic and traditional instruments and other media on episodes of the Odyssey for children.
o BLUE PLATE 1199, VIRGIN 444

Lys de Madrigaux (1976), 23:30, Ohana, Maurice (1914-).
A choral work for female voices, piano, organ, two zithers, and percussion on Odysseus' adventures.
o NAIVE 782171 (2), OPUS 111 30-109

Home at Last (1977), 5:30, Fagen, Donald (1948-).
A pop song by the group Steely Dan with allusions to some of Odysseus' adventures.
o MCA 37214 ("Ája")

Ulisse Ritorna (1981), Sigurbjörnsson, Thorkell (1938-).
His Concerto for Cello and Orchestra honoring Hafliði Hallgrísson who is like Odysseus in his travels.
o MELED 1993

Ulysses' Bow (1984), 33:00, Harbison, John (1938-).
The second part of a ballet about Odysseus' return to Ithaca and his triumph over the suitors.
o ELEKTRA/NONESUCH 79129

What Did the Sirens Sing, as Ulysses Sailed By? (1986), 25:00, Frounberg, Ivar (1950-).
A work of contrasting sounds for orchestra and computer.
o MARCO POLO 8.224027

Odysseus (1987), 59:00, Kocáb, Michael (1954-).
Music for soloists, chorus, rock band, and orchestra for Laterna Magica's performance of the Odyssey.
o SUPRAPHON 110403

Calypso (1987), 4:00, Vega, Suzanne (1959-).
A pop song for voice and acoustical instruments about Calypso's feelings as Odysseus prepares to leave her.
o A&M 5136 ("Solitude Standing")

Ulysses Awakes (1989), 8:00, Woolrich, John (1954-).
A "recomposition" of music from Monteverdi's Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria for viola and ten strings in which Ulysses is represented by the viola..
o ASV 1049

Ulysse: Mythologie IV (1990), 20:30, Fénelon, Philippe (1952-1994).
A work in five scenes and four interludes for a combination of winds and strings recalling various episodes (cave of Polyphemus, Circe, Sirens, Calypso, return to Ithaca) from the Odyssey.
o THESIS 82057 (with his La Colère d'Achille, Hélios, Orion)

A l'Aventure (1990), 12:00, Gougeon, Denis (1951-).
An orchestral work interweaving scenes from the Odyssey with music depicting the idea of wanderlust.
o CBC 5106 (with Vivier's Orion)

The Canticles of Ulysses (1991), 16:30, Kupferman, Meyer (1926-).
A piano work evoking, among other things, Odysseus' daring, energy, and eagerness for his homecoming.
o SOUNDSPELLS 115

Kairos (1991), 16:00, Musgrave, Thea (1929-).
A work for flute, computer, and effects processing representing the most propitious moment for Odysseus to set out on his journey as both Odysseus and the music venture into a new medium.
o NEUMA 450-95 (with her Narcissus and Orfeo 1)

...Between Scylla and Charybdis (1993), 5:30, Argersinger, Charles (1951-).
A work for piano suggesting the dangerous alternatives of these sea monsters from the Odyssey.
o ARIZONA UNIVERSITY 9301(with his Psyche)

Delphic Suite (1994), 11:00, Walczyk, Kevin (1964-).
The two completed movements of a three-movement suite for orchestra evoking scenes from the Odyssey, the first (Lament from Troy) using fragments of actual ancient Greek music and the other (Ruler of the Winds) celebrating the escape from Polyphemus.
o ALBANY TROY 115

Seven Sketches for Saxophone & Orchestra (1995), 36:30, Roumanis, George ().
A work for saxophone andorchestra inspired by seven different episodes of the Odyssey.
o CAPRI 75003

AOIODOI - an Odyssey for Horn and Harp, 22:00, Klein, Lothar (1938-).
A tone poem for the two instruments depicting various unnamed episodes from the Odyssey.
o BIS 793 ("Horn and Harp Odyssey")

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OEDIPUS
Incidental Music from Oedipus (1692), 9:00, Purcell, Henry (1659-1695).
Incidental music for John Dryden and Nathaniel Lee's Oedipus following Sophocles, Seneca, and Corneille.
o ARS MUSICA 1141, DORIAN 90105 ("English Mad Songs and Ayres", with his Music for a While, an aria from the incidental music and Arne's O Come, O Come my Dearest from his The Fall of Phaeton), L'OISEAU-LYRE 444 620 ("The Glory of Purcell")

Edipo a Colono (before 1817), 41:00, Rossini, Gioacchino (1792-1868).
Vocal music for Giambattista Giusti's translation of choruses from Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus.
o FONIT CETRA/ITALIA 68, PHILIPS 434016 (overture)

Antigone und Oedip (1817), 6:00, Schubert, Franz (1797-1828).
A song on Johann Mayrhofer's text from Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus where Antigone prays for Oedipus.
o HYPERION 33014 ("The Hyperion Schubert Edition: Complete Songs vol. 14", songs dealing with Greek mythical figures)

Ödipus (1845), 50:30, Mendelssohn, Felix (1809-1847).
Incidental music for double male chorus, actors, bass, and orchestra for Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus.
o CAPRICCIO 10 393

King Oedipus (1852), 79:00, Lachner, Franz (1803-1890).
Music for choral songs and spoken scenes for Sophocles' play.
o AUDITE 97.425

Chorus of the People in the Temple (1861), 4:00, Mussorgsky, Modest (1839-1881).
A choral scene from V. A. Ozerov's unfinished Oedipus in Athens, an adaptation of Sophocles.
o CHANDOS 9497, RCA 61354

Oedipus Tyrannus (1881), 9:00, Paine, John Knowles (1839-1906).
Incidental music for soloists, chorus, and orchestra for Sophocles' play.
o ALBANY TROY 235 (same as ANGEL recording), ANGEL 49263 ("Skyscrapers", with MacDowell's Lamia)

Oedipus Rex - Prelude (1887), 10:00, Stanford, Charles (1852-1924).
The prelude from incidental music to Sophocles' play.
o CHANDOS 7002/3 (2), 8884

Symphonischer Prolog zu Sophokles Oedipus (1900), 11:00, Schillings, Max von (1868-1932).
A musical introduction to the play commissioned by the Society of Literature and Art.
o CPO 999233, MARCO POLO 8.223324

Tre Preludii Sinfonici per L’Edipo Re (1904), 17:30, Pizzetti, Ildebrando (1880-1968).
Three preludes composed for a performance of Sophocles’ tragedy, mood pictures heralding the Sphinx, Oedipus wrestling with her riddle, and the tragic departure of the blind Oedipus from Thebes.
o HYPERION 67084

Sfinx (1909, 1913 revision), 8:30, Langgaard, Rued (1893-1952).
A tone poem for orchestra.
o DANACORD 408 (with his Ixion)

Edipo Re (1920), 75:00, Leoncavallo, Ruggiero (1857-1919).
An originally unfinished operatic adaptation of Sophocles, later finished by G. Pennacchio.
o ITALIAN OPERA RARITIES 7723

Oedipus Rex (1927, rev.1948), 50:00, Stravinsky, Igor (1882-1971).
An opera oratorio on Jean Cocteau's close Latin text rendering of Sophocles' tragedy.
o ARKADIA 766 (2), CHANDOS 9235, 9240 (with his Apollo) (5), *DG 435 872, EMI 54445, LONDON 430001, MEMORIES 4128, MUSICMASTERS 67078 (2) (with his Apollo), ORFEO 071831, *PHILIPS 438865, SAPHIR 830.869, SONY 4630 (2) (with his Perséphone), *48057, STRADIVARIUS 12311, SUPRAPHON 111947, 3674,  URANIA 22210

Oedipe (1910-31), 157:00, Enesco, Georges (1881-1955).
An opera on Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus, following Oedipus from birth to death.
o EMI 54011 (2)

Night Journey (1947), 30:00, Schuman, William (1910-1992).
A ballet score depicting Jocasta's feelings as she realizes the truth about Oedipus.
o CRI 791 (with his In Sweet Music [Orpheus]), KOCH INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS 7051 ("More Music for Martha Graham", with Menotti's Errand into the Maze)

King Oedipus (1951), 89:30, Partch, Harry (1901-1974).
A musical drama based on W. B. Yeats’ translation of Sophocles, but with Partch’s own text for the recording.
o INNOVA 405 (3) (with his Ulysses Departs from the Edge of the World)

Sohn Laios' (1958), 2:00, Henze, Hans Werner (1926).
A guitar interlude followed by a line from Friedrich Hölderlin's In Lieblicher Blaue from Kammermusik about Oedipus' sufferings.
o MUSICMASTERS 60169 ("Eliot Fisk Plays Guitar Fantasies"), SCHWANN MUSICA MUNDI 310 004

Oedipus Rex (1959), 4:00, Lehrer, Tom (1928-).
A short spoof of the tragic hero by the well-known musical satirist.
o REPRISE 6199, 26203, RHINO 72776

The End (1967), 11:30, Morrison, Jim (1943-1971).
A rock composition for The Doors with references to Oedipus.
o ELEKTRA 74007 {"The Doors")

A Colone (1977), 10:00, Xenakis, Iannis (1922-2001).
A work for chorus and instrumental ensemble on text from Sophocles' play.
o HYPERION 66980 (with his Medea)

The Gospel at Colonus (1983), 53:00, Telson, Bob.
A musical fusing classical and Christian myth by linking gospel music and Sophocles' Oedipus plays.
o ELEKTRA/NONESUCH 79191

Ego Phano (Symphony No. 3) (1984), 21:00, Ikebe, Shin-Ichiro (1943-).
A work using Oedipus' words to find Laius' killer as a protest against excessive intellectualism.
o CAMERATA 374

Greek (1988), 78:00, Turnage, Mark-Anthony (1960-).
An opera on the Oedipus story as a skinhead progresses from racism and poverty to self-knowledge.
o ARGO 440368

Into Eclipse (1980, rev. 1989), 30:00, Albert, Stephen (1941-1992).
A song-cycle on Ted Hughes' adaptation of Seneca's Oedipus, later arranged as an orchestral piece.
o ALBANY TROY 192, ELECTRA/NONESUCH 79153, NEW WORLD 381

Oedipus Tex (1990), 28:00, Schickele, Peter (PDQ Bach) (1935-).
A parody of famous musical works and forms, placing Sophocles' plot in Thebes Gulch, Texas.
o TELARC 80239 ("Oedipus Tex and Other Choral Calamities"), 80520 ("The Ill-Conceived P.D.Q. Bach Anthology")

Jocaste (1993?), 119:00, Chaynes, Charles (1925-).
An opera focusing on Jocasta as the one person not blind to the truth of Oedipus' past and future.
o CHAMADE 5633/4 (2)

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OLYMPIAN GODS
Hymns to various Greek divinities based on ancient Greek musical fragments.
o PAIAN 607, HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 1901015 ("Musique de la Grèce Antique")

Se Zephirus, Phebus, et Leur Lignie (late 14^th cent.), 4:30, anon.
A ballade in which the singer states that the Greek gods would be unable to comfort him if he could not look upon his lady.
o ARCANA 32 ("Balades a III Chans", with Le Mont Aon de Thrace and John Roberts’ Se Alixandre et Hector)

Diletti Pastorali (1624), 55:00, Schein, Johann Hermann (1586-1630).
A number of madrigals about the gods ,especially Cupid and Venus, watching out for Corydon and his beloved Phyllis.
o DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 77088

The Secular Masque (1745), 53:30, Boyce, William (1711-1779).
Music for an allegory by John Dryden about the Stuart era as each king is represented by some god, James I by Diana, Charles I by Mars, Charles II and James II by Venus.
o ASV 176

Uraniens Flucht (1817), 18:00, Schubert, Franz (1797-1828).
A song on Johann Mayrhofer's poem in which Urania appears at a party of the gods to lament her lot on earth.
o HYPERION 33014 ("The Hyperion Schubert Edition: Complete Songs vol. 14", songs dealing with Greek mythical figures), TUDOR 764 ("Lieder Set to Poems by Johann Mayrhofer", with his Der Zürnenden Diana, Atys, Fahrt zum Hades, Philoktet)

Die Götter Griechenlands (1819), 4:30, Schubert, Franz (1797-1828).
A song on the twelfth strophe of Friedrich von Schiller's poem requesting the gods to return to Greece.
o CLAVES 508611 (with his Atys), DG 437225 ("Schubert Lieder, Vol. 2"), DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 77296 (with his Hektors Abschied and Gruppe aus dem Tartarus), EMI 57141 (with his Lied eines Schiffers an die Dioskuren), ERATO 98493 (with his Freiwilliges Versinken and An Schwager Kronos), HYPERION 33014 ("The Hyperion Schubert Edition: Complete Songs vol. 14", songs dealing with Greek mythical figures), JECKLIN-DISCO 630 (with his Ganymed), OMEGA 1001 ("Elly Ameling Sings Schubert at Tanglewood", with his Ganymed and Iphigeneia), ORFEO 592021 (with his Atys)

Dithyrambe(1826), 2:30, Schubert, Franz (1797-1828).
A song on Friedrich von Schiller’s poem in which a poet asks the Greek gods to give him immortality so that he can enjoy the pleasures of Olympus.
o HYPERION 33011("Hyperion Schubert Edition 11", with his Lied de Orpheus and Elysium)

Thespis "The Gods Grown Old" (1871), 9:00, Sullivan, Arthur (1842-1900).
Ballet music from a burlesque about an acting troupe temporarily entrusted with the powers of the Olympians.
o MARCO POLO 8.223460

The Planets (1914-6), 49:00, Holst, Gustav (1874-1934).
A symphonic suite for large orchestra depicting various gods and goddesses.
o ANALEKTA 7804, ANGEL 47160, *69045, ASV 782, 6078, BBC 1003, BLACKBOX MUSIC 1041, CALA 0526, CBS 37226, 44781, CHANDOS 6633, 8302, CLASSIC COMPACT DISCS 6734, CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE 4243, 9513, COLLINS CLASSICS 1348, 10352, DENON 75076, DG 400028, 413852, 419475, *429730, 439011, *445860, 463627, EMI 47160, 64300, 64748, 65423, 66934, FACET 8002, HANSSLER 93.043, HYPERION 67270, IMP 108, 890, INFINITY DIGITAL 57258, INTERSOUND 2807, KOCH HISTORIC 7704, KOCH LEGACY 7018, LASERLIGHT 14010, LONDON *414567, 414650, 417553, 417677, 417709, *425152, *430447, 452910, 467418, LSO 29, MASTERPIECE 1827, MCA 9813 (2), NAXOS 8.550193, 555776, NIMBUS 5117, PEARL 9417, PHILIPS 416456, 420177, 420893, 422403, 434162, PRO ARTE 542, RAVEN 380, RCA 61270, 61724, 68819, SAGA 3346, *SONY 47567, 62400, TELARC 80133, 80466, TELDEC 46316, 94541. VIRGIN 59645, 61257, 61510(2), VOX 9035, VOX BOX 5105 (2), ALBANY TROY 198 (two piano version), RCA 60518 (electronic performance)

The Sanguine Fan (1917), 18:30, Elgar, Edward (1857-1934).
Music for a ballet about the encounter of flirtatious 18^th century mortals and malicious Greek gods, based on a fan design featuring Pan and Echo and couples in Louis XV dress.
o NAXOS 553879

Suite No. 2 (1943), 25:30, Lajtha, László (1892-1963).
Music for the satirical ballet The Grove of Four Gods about the amorous adventures of four Greek gods.
o MARCO POLO 8.223671

The Olympians (1949), 123:00, Bliss, Arthur (1891-1975).
An opera about the restoration of the Olympians' powers once every hundred years on Midsummer Night.
o INTAGLIO 755 (2)

Phlegra (1976), 13:30, Xenakis, Iannis (1922-2001).
A work for chamber orchestra inspired by the battleground of the Olympians and the Giants.
o ERATO 45770, VANDENBURG 0001

Kottos (1977), 9:30, Xenakis, Iannis (1922-2001).
A work for solo cello reflecting the rage of the hundred-handed giant who fought Zeus.
o MONTAIGNE 782005 (2) (with his Euryali (Medusa))

Goddess (1996), 22:00, Arkenstone, David.
A new-age work for synthesizer, keyboard, and percussion honoring various goddesses for their creative energy.
o ENSO 62804 ("Goddess")

Three Olympians for String Orchestra (2000), 14:30, Boyer, Peter (1970-).
Three short portraits of Apollo, Aphrodite, and Ares.
o KOCH 7523 (with his Ghosts of Troy)

Song of the Goddesses, Nelson, Marie Barker (1926-).
A work for mixed choir honoring Gaia, Artemis, Hera, Aphrodite, Demeter, and Persephone.
o MMC 2010 ("American Chamber Music")

Mythologia (), 72:00, Vine, Carl (1954-).
A dance score accompanyin the depiction of the carefree life of the Olympians.
o TALL POPPIES 149

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OMPHALE (see HERACLES)

(back to Index)

ORESTES (see also ANDROMACHE, IPHIGENEIA)
Electra (1787), 88:00, Haeffner, Johann Christian Friedrich (1759-1833).
An opera capturing Sophocles' portrayal of an impetuous and defiant heroine.
o CAPRICE 22030:1/2 (2), MUSICA SVECIAE 426 ("Gustavian Operas", selections, with Naumann's Amphion and Uttini's Thetis)

Fragment aus den Aescylus (1816), 2:30, Schubert, Franz (1797-1828).
A song on Johann Mayrhofer's translation of Aeschylus' Eumenides 540-555.
o CAMERATA 32CM-115 ("Ernst Haeflinger: Song Recital", with his Atys), DG 437215 ("Schubert Lieder, Vol. 1"), HYPERION 33014 ("The Hyperion Schubert Edition: Complete Songs vol. 14", songs dealing with Greek mythical figures), NAXOS 8.554738 (with other songs of mythical characters)

Orest auf Tauris (1817), 3:00, Schubert, Franz (1797-1828).
A song on Johann Mayrhofer's poem about Orestes' arrival in Tauris in hopes of escaping his curse.
o DG 437225 ("Schubert Lieder, Vol. 2"), HYPERION 33014 ("The Hyperion Schubert Edition: Complete Songs vol. 14", songs dealing with Greek mythical figures), NAXOS 8.554738 (with other songs of mythical characters), PREISER 93404, TUDOR 762 (with his Lied Eines Schiffers an die Dioskuren)

Der Entsühnte Orest (Orestes Purified) (1820), 3:30, Schubert, Franz (1797-1828).
A song on Johann Mayrhofer's poem about Orestes' joyous homecoming from Tauris.
o DG 437225 ("Schubert Lieder, Vol. 2"), HYPERION 33014 ("The Hyperion Schubert Edition: Complete Songs vol. 14", songs dealing with Greek mythical figures), NAXOS 8.554738 (with other songs of mythical characters)

Oresteya (1887-94), 148:00, Taneyev, Sergei (1856-1915).
An opera presenting a compact version of Aeschylus' trilogy with one act for each play.
o MELODIYA 195 (2), OLYMPIA 95 A/B (2)

Electre (c.1890),104:00, Gouvy, Théodore (1819-1898).
A cantata for four soloists and chorus based on the ancient Greek dramas.
O K617 092 (2)

Prelude to the Eumenides (1893), 10:30, Wallace, William (1860-1940).
A concert work based on Aeschylus' last play of the Oresteia trilogy.
o HYPERION 66987

Apollo's Temple in Delphi (1894), 3:00, Taneyev, Sergei (1856-1915).
The entr'acte from his opera Oresteya after Aeschylus.
o MELODIYA 10-00021

Oresteia Overture (1897), 18:00, Tanayev, Sergei (1856-1915).
A symphonic poem, independent from the opera, about the Furies' pursuit of Orestes until they become the Eumenides.
o CHANDOS 8953, ONDINE 959, REVELATION 10083

Elektra (1908), 90:00, Strauss, Richard (1864-1949).
An opera on Hugo von Hofmannsthal's play about Electra's revenge for the death of her father.
o ACTES SUD 124 (2), ARKADIA 459 (3), ARLECCHINO 20/2 (3), DG 431737 (2), 445329 (same performance), 453429 (2), EMI 54067 (2), FONIT CETRA 4 (2), INA 34109 (2), KOCH SCHWANN 316432 (2), *LONDON 417345 (2), MELODRAM 27044 (2), 3.0049 (2), MEMORIES 4380/1 (2), MYTO 946.117 (2), NUOVA ERA 2241/2 (2), ORFEO 298922 (2), PHILIPS 422574 (2), RCA 68635 (5), RODOLPH 32420/1 (2), STANDING ROOM ONLY 833 (2), TELDEC 99175 (2)

Les Choéphores (1915), 34:00, Milhaud, Darius (1892-1974).
Incidental music for Part 2 of Paul Claudel's translation of Aeschylus' Oresteia capturing the atmosphere of doom.
o CLASSICAL COLLECTOR 150 122 (3), DG 449748 (with Roussel's Bacchus et Ariane), SONY 62352

Elektra (1920), 20:00, Diepenbrock, Alphons (1862-1921).
A symphonic suite of incidental music by a classicist/composer for Sophocles' play.
o CHANDOS 8821 (with his Marsyas), 10029 (2) (with his Marsyas), DONEMUS 50

The Oresteia (1921), 7:30, Simonsen, Rudolf (1889-1947).
The first movement of his symphony Hellas, inspired by Aeschylus' Oresteia.
o DANACORD 370-1 (2)

Electra (1962), Theodorakis, Mikis (1929-).
The musical score for Michael Cacoyannis' film on Euripides' drama.
o SAKKARIS 50090

Electra (1966), 19:30, Flagello, Nicolas (1928-1994).
A concerto for piano and percussion ensemble as a character study of the heroine.
o PREMIER 1014

Oresteia (1966/1987), 49:00, Xenakis, Iannis (1922-2001).
An orchestral suite on selections of Aeschylus' trilogy focusing on the story's violence.
o SALABERT 8906

Mask of Electra (1968), 9:00, Kupferman, Meyer (1926-).
A work for mezzo-soprano, oboe, and electric harpsichord to a text by the composer.
o SOUNDSPELLS 112

Visages Mycéniens (1983), Chaynes, Charles (1925-).
A two- section work for orchestra inspired by Greek tragedy with the first section depicting Cassandra's rage over her captivity and the second depicting Electra's hatred.
o MFA 216024

The Oresteia (1991-3), 49:00, Lim, Liza (1966-).
An opera on Aeschylus' trilogy emphasizing the continuing meaning of the themes of the original.
o DISCHI RICORDI 1030

Three Faces of Electra (1995), Kupferman, Meyer (1926-).
An orchestral work described alternately as a symphonic poem and an imaginary ballet.
o SOUNDSPELLS 120

Electra Rising (1995), 31:30, Forsyth, Malcolm (1936-).
A work for cello and chamber orchestra in four movements using the Agamemnon/Electra father/daughter relationship as a symbol for the close musical relationship between himself and his daughter.
o CBC 5180

Electra (1996), 155:30, Theodorakis, Mikis (1929-).
An oratorio-like opera based closely on Sophocles’ tragedy.
o INTUITION 3312 (2)

(back to Index)

ORION
Orione (1763), 10:00, Bach, Johann Christian (1735-1782).
An orchestral overture for his first London opera at King’s Theater.
o CPO 999488

L'Orione (1653), 156:00, Cavalli, Piero Francesco (1602-1676).
An opera based on Ovid's Fasti introducing an elementof humor into the story.
o MONDO MUSICA 22249 (3)

Orion (1979), 13:00, Vivier, Claude (1948-1983).
An orchestral work built on seven different motifs, one for each star of the constellation.
o CBC 5106 (with Gougeon's A L'Aventure [Odysseus])

Orion: Mythologie II (1988-9), 21:00, Fénelon, Philippe (1952-1994).
A work in five movements for clarinet, viola, harp, and trombone on his falling for Merope, his hunting on Chios, his blinding by Oenopion, his chase by Scorpion, his death at the hands of Artemis, and his placement among the stars.
o ADDA 581277 ("Alain Damiens"), THESIS 82057 (with his La Colère d'Achille, Hélios, Ulysse)

Orion Machine (Trombone Concerto) (1993), 22:00, Yoshimatsu, Takashi (1953-).
A five-movement trombone concerto representing, in the composer's words, "the galactic hunter Orion amusing himself with a wondrous machine called a trombone."
o CHANDOS 9960