Composers often take inspiration from the world around them. It might be a mountain, the ocean—or a beautiful woman.

In those cases, there’s a direct connection, but capturing the spirit of a painting or sculpture is another matter.

There, the composer’s inspiration is the artist’s portrayal of that woman, ocean, or mountain, so the music reflects the composer’s response to the work of art—and in doing that, takes on a life of its own.

In this hour, examples in music by Saint-Saëns, Berlioz, Suppé, Resphigi, and more.

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Links to Artworks Referenced in this Program:

Botticelli La Primavera (The Spring):  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primavera_%28Botticelli%29

Whistler: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McNeill_Whistler

Goya Capricho No. 33: Al conde palatino:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_caprichos

Pygmalion & Galatea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmalion_(mythology)

Danse Macabre (Dance of Death): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danse_Macabre

Kahlo “Portrait of Lupe Marin”: https://www.fridakahlo.org/portrait-of-lupe-marin.jsp

Rothko “White and Black on Wine”: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4101164

Benvenuto Cellini statue of Perseus with the Head of Medusa:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseus_with_the_Head_of_Medusa

FEATURED RECORDINGS

Title	Group/Artist	Catalog #	UPC
Saint-Saens: Orchestral Works [for Danse Macabre]	Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi	Chandos CHAN 5104	5059864510434
Respighi - Vetrate di chiesa, Trittico Botticelliano [for“Spring,” from Three Botticelli Pictures]	Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Liege, John Neschling	BIS BIS-2250	7318599922508
Debussy – The Complete Works [for Nuages]	National ORTF Orchestra. Jean Martinon	Warner Classics 0190295736750	0190295736750
Castelnuovo-Tedesco - 24 Caprichos de Goya [for “To the Count Palatine,” from 24 Caprices of Goya]	Zoran Dukić	Naxos 8.572252-53	0747313225279
Suppé: Die Schöne Galathée [for overture to The Beautiful Galatea]	Cappella Coloniensis,  Bruno Weil	Capriccio 60134	4006408601340
Frida (soundtrack) [for “Portrait of Lupe”]	Unnamed studio orchestra, Stephen Mercurio	Deutsche Grammophon 289 474 150-2	028947415022
Schoenberg, Adam: American Symphony, Finding Rothko & Picture Studies [for “Wine,” from Finding Rothko]	Kansas City Symphony, Michael Stern	Reference Recordings RR-139	030911213923
Berlioz. Complete Orchestral Works [foroverture to Benvenuto Cellini]	London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis	Philips 456 143-2	028945614328