The second of four tone poems for orchestra inspired by those of Franz Liszt, Phaeton was composed in 1873 and like its predecessor is named after a figure in Greek mythology. The tragic tale concerns Phaeton, the son of Helios (the Sun God) and Clymene, who separated from Helios and subsequently married to mortal king. Seeking assurance that the sun god was his true father, Phaeton obtained permission from Helios to drive his sun chariot. Unable to control the chariot and in danger of destroying the earth, the unfortunate Phaeton was killed by a bolt from Zeus to avert disaster. The score presented here is a newly engraved edition prepared by Richard W. Sargeant, Jr.
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