Le Rouet d'Omphale
Camille Saint-Saëns symphonic poem
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Le Rouet d'Omphale (The Spinning Wheel of Omphale or Omphale's Spinning Wheel), Op. 31, is a symphonic poem for orchestra, composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1871. It is one of the most famous of the four symphonic poems in a mythological series by Saint-Saëns. The other three in the series are Danse macabre, Phaéton, and La jeunesse d'Hercule. The work was printed by Éditions Durand with the dedication 'à Mademoiselle Augusta Holmès'.
Premise
Apollo condemns Hercules to serve Omphale while disguised as a woman: While wearing woman's dress, Hercules slaves for three years spinning wool for her on a spinning wheel.[1]
Analysis
Usage
The middle section of Le Rouet d'Omphale was used as the theme music to the 1930s US radio drama, The Shadow.[4]
