This is the earliest surviving orchestral work by Paul Dukas. The twenty-five-year old composer was inspired by one of the tragedies of Pierre Corneille that deals with the story of Polyeucte, a third-century Roman who was a martyr to the campaign of persecution of Christians. Dukas' piece is a fifteen-minute overture to the play. Its perfection belies the youth of the composer. Following the Wagnerian model, the work is really a symphonic poem which tells the story while following the formal scheme of a classical overture. It opens with a slow and spacious introduction based on the main theme, where the orchestra creates an atmosphere between Tannhauser and Tristan. A second, more agitated section, presents the second theme. The struggle ceases and a threatening calm is followed by a certain melancholy. Gradually, the intensity increases. The main themes are combined and a climax is reached just before the reprise of the agitated section. When it subsides, a new majestic section, presents a wagnerian transfiguration of the first theme. n

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