Symphony to Dante’s Divina Commedia

work by Liszt

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June 17, 2026

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Franz Liszt's Symphony to Dante's Divina Commedia (1856) is a symphonic poem inspired by Dante Alighieri's epic poem, The Divine Comedy. The symphony is structured into three movements, each representing a major section of Dante's work: Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. Liszt, a devout Catholic, used his musical imagination to portray the distinct atmospheres of these realms, employing simple, tranquil melodies for Paradise and more complex, writhing harmonies for Inferno. The symphony concludes with a setting of the Magnificat for female chorus and orchestra, a suggestion from Richard Wagner. Liszt's work utilizes the leitmotif, a technique similar to Berlioz's idée fixe, to unify the musical narrative.123

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symphony
Berlioz and Liszt
Liszt’s other symphonic work, the Symphony to Dante’s Divina Commedia (1856), depicts the three major sections of The Divine Comedy—Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. Liszt, at times a devout Catholic, portrayed Dante’s scenes with great imagination and passion, cleverly suiting his melody—sometimes simple and tranquil, sometimes chromatic and writhing—and harmony to…
Read More
Liszt’s other symphonic work, the Symphony to Dante’s Divina Commedia (1856), depicts the three major sections of The Divine Comedy—Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. Liszt, at times a devout Catholic, portrayed Dante’s scenes with great imagination and passion, cleverly suiting his melody—sometimes simple and tranquil, sometimes chromatic and writhing—and harmony to…
Read More