In Greek mythology, Prometheus is best known for defying the Olympian gods by stealing fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, knowledge, and more generally, civilization.

Prometheus – The Myth in Music

Beethoven • Nono • Liszt • Scriabin

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)

Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (The Creatures of Prometheus), ballet, Op. 43

1. Introduction. Allegro non troppo 01:57

2. No. 1: Poco Adagio - Allegro con brio 02:57

3. No. 9: Adagio - Allegro molto 03:39 

4. No. 10: Pastorale. Allegro 02:30

5. No. 14: Allegretto 01:26

6. No. 15: Adagio – Allegro 02:11

7. No. 16: Finale. Allegretto 06:13

 

FRANZ LISZT (1811–1886)

8. Prometheus (I & II), 

        symphonic poem for orchestra, S. 99 (LW G6) 13:04

 

ALEXANDER SCRIABIN (1872–1915)

9. Symphony No. 5 in F sharp major for piano, organ, chorus & orchestra 

        ("Prometheus, Poem of Fire"), Op. 60 18:59

 

LUIGI NONO (1924–1990)

Prometeo, Tragedia dell'ascolto, 

for vocal soloists, speakers, choruses, orchestras & live electronics

10. 3 voci (a) 12:52

11. Isola seconda: (b) Hölderlin 09:24

Martha Argerich piano

Ingrid Ade-Jesemann • Monika Bair-Ivenz soprano

Susanne Otto alto • Peter Hall tenor 

Ulrike Krumbiegel • Mathias Schadock speaker

Berlin Singakademie • Solistenchor Freiburg

Berliner Philharmoniker 

Claudio Abbado

From an online review:

The best reason to buy this disk is its inclusion of selections from Luigi Nono's astonishing theater piece. People used to fight for tickets to rare performances of it (I saw the recent one in Lucerne)--rare because the positions of audience and performers are reversed (audience in the pit, surrounded on all sides by orchestras, choruses and soloists--an expensive proposition), Naturally the theatricality can't be heard on a recording, but Nono writes ravishingly for voices. Abbado has long been a faithful champion of Nono's music and the performance here is very fine indeed.