Composer

:

Igor Stravinsky

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1908 - 1914

First Performance

:

May 26, 1914

Average_duration

:

46:26

Le Rossignol is an opera composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1908-1909. The libretto was written by Stravinsky and Stepan Mitusov, based on the fairy tale "The Nightingale" by Hans Christian Andersen. The opera premiered on May 26, 1914, at the Paris Opera. The plot of Le Rossignol revolves around the story of a Chinese emperor who becomes enamored with the song of a nightingale. He orders the bird to be brought to his court, but when a mechanical nightingale is presented to him, he becomes angry and orders the real nightingale to be banished. However, when the emperor falls ill, the nightingale returns to sing for him and heal him. The emperor realizes the error of his ways and begs the nightingale to stay with him forever. The opera is divided into three movements. The first movement introduces the emperor and his court, as well as the nightingale and her song. The second movement focuses on the mechanical nightingale and the emperor's anger when he realizes it is not the real bird. The third movement sees the return of the nightingale and her healing song, as well as the emperor's realization of his mistake. One of the characteristics of Le Rossignol is its use of exoticism, with its Chinese setting and incorporation of Chinese melodies and instruments. Stravinsky also employs a variety of musical styles, including impressionism, neoclassicism, and folk music. The opera features a large orchestra, with prominent use of percussion and brass. Le Rossignol was not initially well-received, with some critics finding it too experimental and lacking in traditional operatic elements. However, it has since become recognized as an important work in Stravinsky's oeuvre and in the development of modern opera.

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