Liszt's first sketch for this work is dated August 1, 1849. He had heard the principal theme for Tasso in Venice, Italy several years earlier, however, using it in the 1840 version of his piano piece "Chant do Goldolier" in Venezia e Napoli. Liszt completed the 1849 version of Tasso as an overture in two sections, giving it to August Conradi to orchestrate. This version was performed in Weimar, Germany on the centennial of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's birth as an overture to his drama Torquato Tasso. Liszt later corrected Conradi's score and had Joachim Raff produce a new score in 1850–51. Liszt then revised this score extensively, adding a central section. This version was performed on April 19, 1854 in Weimar, conducted by Liszt.

Date of composition 1849 (revised in 1850–51 and 1854)
First published 1856
Type Symphonic Poem
Catalogue S. 96
Approx. duration 20 minutes
Instruments Orchestra
Arrangements Franz Liszt: Tasso: Lamento e Trionfo (Symphonic Poem No.2), S. 590
Franz Liszt: Tasso: Lamento e Trionfo (Symphonic Poem No.2), S. 636
Autotranslations beta Franz Liszt: Tasso, Lamento e Trionfo, S. 96
Franz Liszt: Tasso, Lamento e Trionfo, S. 96
Franz Liszt: Tasso, Lamento e Trionfo, S. 96