Symphony No. 5 (Raff)
symphony composed by Joachim Raff
Symphony No. 5 in E major (Lenore), Op. 177, was composed by Joachim Raff between 1870 and 1872. It is generally regarded as his best symphony and the most frequently performed and recorded today. It was inspired by Gottfried August Bürger's ballad Lenore, set during the Seven Years' War.
The symphony came during a time of great success for Raff. He already achieved fame with his Third and Fourth symphonies, as well as the opera Dame Kobold, so the orchestras were eager to perform it. The premiere took place in December 1872 at a private performance in Sonderhausen in front of an audience of 20. The first public performance took place in Berlin the following year and it was very well received. The work was performed in other places in Germany, as well as England and America.
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