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Hero was a beautiful priestess of Aphrodite who lived in a tower in Sestos, on the European side of the Hellespont. Leander, a young man from Abydos on the opposite Asian shore, fell deeply in love with her.

Recommend of the piece to listen to while reading. Explain how other movements in Opus 12 connect to this one. Find more details on the myth of Hero and Leander itself. in_der_nacht

: The piece begins with a restless, agitated theme that captures the churning waves of the sea and Leander’s desperate struggle against the current. The middle section shifts into a more lyrical, tender melody, representing the couple's brief, passionate time together in the safety of the tower. Hero was a beautiful priestess of Aphrodite who

: Every night, Leander would swim across the treacherous Hellespont to be with Hero. To guide his path through the dark, turbulent waters, Hero would light a torch at the top of her tower. Explain how other movements in Opus 12 connect to this one

: One winter night, a fierce storm blew out Hero's torch. Without the light to guide him, Leander lost his way in the darkness and drowned.