“The three edifices are the 1st, 3rd and 5th movements, between which come the two ‚living’ ones; scherzo and tarantella; the first as the nature-play of a magic flower and a magic bird – the second represented by Vesuvius and cypresses. – Over the entrance the sun rises; a seal is fastened to the door of the end building; the winged being at the close is the nature-mysticism of Oehlenschlaeger’s chorus.” (Busoni to his wife, 21–22 July 1902)

The world première took place on 10 November with ...