A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Œdipus

by George Grove

ŒDIPUS. Mendelssohn was commanded by the king of Prussia to set music to the three plays of Sophocles—Antigone, Œdipus Tyrannus, and Œdipus at Colonus—as a trilogy.^[1] Antigone was first performed at the New Palace, Potsdam, Oct. 28, 1841. On March 12, 1845, Mendelssohn informs His Majesty that the music to Œdipus at Colonos is finished and ready for performance, and that for Œdipus Tyrannus completely sketched, meaning no doubt in full score, as was usually the case with his 'sketches.' The first of the two was produced at Potsdam on Nov. 1, 1845, and was published, before the end of 1851, as op. 93 (22 of the posthumous works). It contains an introduction and nine numbers. A full analysis of the work by Mr. G. A. Macfarren will be found in the earlier numbers of the Musical World for 1854. Œdipus Tyrannus appears never to have come to performance, and the finished sketch of the music seems to have disappeared. [App. p.734 "Add that incidental music, choruses, etc. were written to the play by Dr. C. V. Stanford, for the performance at Cambridge on Nov. 22–26, 1887."]

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1. Letter of Müller in Mendelssohn's Briefe, March 19, 1843.