Faust Symphony

work by Liszt

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June 26, 2026

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Franz Liszt's Faust Symphony is a three-movement symphonic work inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's dramatic poem Faust. Each movement is named after a character from the poem: Faust, Gretchen, and Mephistopheles. The symphony utilizes thematic transformation, a technique where musical themes are altered and developed throughout the piece, rather than strict sonata-allegro form. The final movement, representing Mephistopheles, parodies themes from the earlier movements, creating a diabolical effect. Liszt dedicated the score to Hector Berlioz, who also composed symphonic works inspired by literature.123

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program music
…specifically programmatic works—such as the Faust Symphony and some of his symphonic poems—are not often performed. In Liszt’s works without written program, notably the Piano Sonata in B Minor and his two piano concerti, similar types of moods are expressed in a style resembling that of the symphonic poems.
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…specifically programmatic works—such as the Faust Symphony and some of his symphonic poems—are not often performed. In Liszt’s works without written program, notably the Piano Sonata in B Minor and his two piano concerti, similar types of moods are expressed in a style resembling that of the symphonic poems.
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symphony
Berlioz and Liszt
The three movements of his Faust Symphony (1854) bear the names of Goethe’s characters—Faust, Gretchen, and Mephistopheles—and the final movement parodies themes of the first two in a satisfyingly diabolical manner. Characters aside, the music is highly effective and balanced; Liszt revised the score over several decades. The score is…
Read More
The three movements of his Faust Symphony (1854) bear the names of Goethe’s characters—Faust, Gretchen, and Mephistopheles—and the final movement parodies themes of the first two in a satisfyingly diabolical manner. Characters aside, the music is highly effective and balanced; Liszt revised the score over several decades. The score is…
Read More