Duration: 12 minutes

Description: Richard Wagner (1813–1883) composed Eine Faust-Ouvertüre (Faust Overture), WWV 59 between 1839 and 1840 while living in Paris, originally conceiving it as the first movement of a projected Faust Symphony inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s monumental dramatic poem Faust. Although Wagner abandoned plans for the complete symphony, he substantially revised the surviving movement in 1855, transforming it into the concert overture known today. The work reflects the composer’s fascination with Goethe’s portrayal of Faust as a restless seeker of knowledge and meaning, and its turbulent themes and dramatic contrasts reveal Wagner’s growing departure from conventional symphonic models toward the highly expressive musical language of his mature music dramas. The original version was first performed in Dresden on July 22, 1844, under Wagner’s direction, while this revised version was introduced in Zurich in 1855. Today, Eine Faust-Ouvertüre occupies a respected place in the orchestral repertoire as one of Wagner’s most significant non-operatic works. Instrumentation: 2+1(Picc).2.2.3: 4.2.3.1: Timp: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set). Reprint edition.

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