Composer

:

William Walton

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1987

Average_duration

:

34:30

Troilus and Cressida is an opera in three acts composed by William Walton. The opera was composed between 1949 and 1954, with the libretto written by Christopher Hassall. It premiered on 3 December 1954 at the Royal Opera House in London, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. The opera is based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name, which tells the story of the Trojan War and the doomed love affair between Troilus, a Trojan prince, and Cressida, a Trojan woman who is traded to the Greeks. The opera is known for its complex score, which combines elements of modernism with more traditional operatic forms. The first act of the opera is set in Troy, where Troilus and Cressida fall in love. The second act takes place in the Greek camp, where Cressida is traded to the Greeks in exchange for a Trojan prisoner. The third act returns to Troy, where Troilus and Cressida's love is ultimately destroyed by the war. The score of Troilus and Cressida is characterized by its use of dissonance and complex rhythms, as well as its incorporation of traditional operatic forms such as arias and choruses. The opera also features a large orchestra, including a percussion section that includes a wide variety of instruments. Overall, Troilus and Cressida is considered one of Walton's most challenging works, both for performers and audiences. However, it is also regarded as a masterpiece of 20th-century opera, and has been performed and recorded numerous times since its premiere.

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