LE COCYTE

for orchestra, M.603 (1999)

After the 34^th chapter of the Hell,

of the Divine Comedy by Dante

LISTEN TO THE EXCERPT :

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SCORE OF THIS EXCERPT (pdf-file)

Interpretation :

Berner Symphonie Orchester, conducted by Luca Pfaff

Broadcasted by the Swiss Radio DRS

This work has been ordered by the Pro Helvetia Foundation for the 100^th Festival of Swiss Musicians (Swiss Musicians Association). The excerpt is taken from the broadcasting of the work’s first performance, on September 2^nd, 2000, in St.Moritz.

Duration of the work : approximately 11’

Argument

The Cocytus, 9^th and last circle of Hell, is according to Dante a frozen lake where the traitors are plunged.

In the 4^th area of the lake are to be found those having been traitors towards their benefactors, completely paralyzed in the transparent ice.

Immense and emerging partly of the lake, the emperor of the realm of pains, Lucifer, aged and hideous, crushing a traitor in each of the mouths of his triple face, waves his 6 bat wings, whose icy wind fills the whole Cocytus.

Laurent Mettraux