Which play inspired Arnold Schoenberg’s symphonic poem Pelleas und Melisande?

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Arnold Schoenberg’s symphonic poem Pelleas und Melisande (1902–03) was inspired by the play of the same name written by the Belgian author Maurice Maeterlinck.12

First published in 1892, Maeterlinck’s PellĂ©as et MĂ©lisande is a masterpiece of French Symbolist drama. The play is a dreamlike fairy tale set in a medieval, imaginary land, focusing on the tragic love between the title characters. Schoenberg composed his symphonic poem for a large orchestra based on this work with the encouragement of Richard Strauss.12