Literature: Inspired by

22 tracks • 2 h 19 min

Literature is a constant source of inspiration for classical music, providing plots, characters and themes for symphonies, operas and songs. Here are some of the greatest book-inspired works.

Playlist Tracks

Album cover of ナツノヨルノユメ : Mendelssohn: Overture
ナツノヨルノユメ : Mendelssohn: Overture "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Op. 21
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa, Felix Mendelssohn
11:55
Album cover of La traviata / Act I : Verdi: La traviata / Act I:
La traviata / Act I : Verdi: La traviata / Act I: "Libiamo ne'lieti calici"
Rolando Villazón, Anna Netrebko, Helene Schneiderman, Herman Wallén, Salvatore Cordella, Paul Gay, Wiener Philharmoniker, Carlo Rizzi, Wiener Staatsopernchor
03:04
Album cover of Scheherezade, Op. 35: I. The Sea and Sinbad's Ship
Scheherezade, Op. 35: I. The Sea and Sinbad's Ship
Pelin Halkacı Alkın
10:14
Album cover of Final Alice : Del Tredici: Final Alice: 8.
Final Alice : Del Tredici: Final Alice: 8. "A boat 'neath a sunny sky"
Barbara Hendricks, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti
08:09
Album cover of Don Quixote a Dulcinea: I. Romantic Song
Don Quixote a Dulcinea: I. Romantic Song
Vladimir Rushdiak, Alfred Holecek
02:03
Album cover of Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, Act 1, Scene 2: Young Juliet
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, Act 1, Scene 2: Young Juliet
André Previn
03:33
Album cover of Eine Faust-Ouvertüre
Eine Faust-Ouvertüre
Jeffrey Tate/Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
13:15
Album cover of Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress, Epilogue:
Vaughan Williams: The Pilgrim's Progress, Epilogue: "Now Hearer, I Have Told My Dream to Thee" (Bunyan)
Sir Adrian Boult, Raimund Herincx
03:59
Album cover of Manon Lescaut / Act 1 : Puccini: Manon Lescaut / Act 1:
Manon Lescaut / Act 1 : Puccini: Manon Lescaut / Act 1: "Donna non vidi mai"
José Cura, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Riccardo Muti
02:16
Album cover of Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22 "Legends from the Kalevala": No. 2, The Swan of Tuonela
Eugene Ormandy
09:07
Album cover of The Turn of the Screw, Op. 54, Act I: Prologue
The Turn of the Screw, Op. 54, Act I: Prologue
Andrew Kennedy
03:44
Album cover of War and Peace Symphonic Suite: I. The Ball: Ii] Waltz (Arr. C. Palmer)
War and Peace Symphonic Suite: I. The Ball: Ii] Waltz (Arr. C. Palmer)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
05:39
Album cover of Bizet: Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: Habanera.
Bizet: Carmen, WD 31, Act 1: Habanera. "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" (Carmen, Chœur)
Michel Plasson, Angela Gheorghiu, LES ELEMENTS
04:35
Album cover of Schubert: Gretchen am Spinnrade, D. 118
Schubert: Gretchen am Spinnrade, D. 118
Renée Fleming, Christoph Eschenbach
03:25
Album cover of Otello / Act IV : Verdi: Otello / Act IV - Ave Maria, piena di grazia
Otello / Act IV : Verdi: Otello / Act IV - Ave Maria, piena di grazia
Cheryl Studer, Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris, Myung-Whun Chung, Giuseppe Verdi
04:42
Album cover of Gluck: Don Juan, Wq. 52: I. Sinfonia - Allegro
Gluck: Don Juan, Wq. 52: I. Sinfonia - Allegro
John Eliot Gardiner
01:39
Album cover of Lucia di Lammermoor / Act 1 : Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor / Act 1 -
Lucia di Lammermoor / Act 1 : Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor / Act 1 - "Qui di sposa eterna...Ah! Verrano a te sull'aure"
Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Richard Bonynge
06:55
Album cover of From the House of the Dead (Z Mrtvého Domu) / Act 1 : Janáček: From the House of the Dead (Z Mrtvého Domu) / Act 1: Prelude
From the House of the Dead (Z Mrtvého Domu) / Act 1 : Janáček: From the House of the Dead (Z Mrtvého Domu) / Act 1: Prelude
Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Charles Mackerras
05:31
Album cover of Madama Butterfly, Act II : Puccini: Madama Butterfly, Act II: Un bel dì vedremo
Madama Butterfly, Act II : Puccini: Madama Butterfly, Act II: Un bel dì vedremo
Mirella Freni, Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
04:33
Album cover of Mozart: Don Giovanni, Act 2:
Mozart: Don Giovanni, Act 2: "Deh vieni alla fenestra" (Don Giovanni)
Bryn Terfel, Sir Georg Solti, London Philharmonic Orchestra
02:16
Album cover of Rigoletto / Act 3 : Verdi: Rigoletto / Act 3: Bella figlia dell'amore
Rigoletto / Act 3 : Verdi: Rigoletto / Act 3: Bella figlia dell'amore
Luciano Pavarotti, June Anderson, Shirley Verrett, Leo Nucci, Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Riccardo Chailly, Giuseppe Verdi
04:09
Album cover of Ce qu'on entend sur la montagne, poème symphonique d'après Victor Hugo, Op. 13
Ce qu'on entend sur la montagne, poème symphonique d'après Victor Hugo, Op. 13
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Christian Arming
24:21