Helios ouvertyr

Every morning, Helios, the Greek sun god, would set off on his journey across the heavens in his golden chariot, drawn by four stallions, the rays of the sun radiating from his jewel-encrusted golden helmet.

Carl Nielsen composed the Helios Overture during a stay in Athens, where his wife Anne Marie was studying Greek art. Just like Richard Strauss’ famous sunrise prelude to Also sprach Zarathustra, the Helios Overture begins with a single drawn-out chord on the low strings. On the score, Nielsen wrote: "Silence and darkness. The sun rises with a joyous song of praise. It wanders its golden way and sinks quietly into the sea."