Composer

:

Alexander von Zemlinsky

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1920 - 1921

First Performance

:

May 28, 1922

"Der Zwerg" is an opera composed by Alexander von Zemlinsky, with a libretto by Georg C. Klaren, based on Oscar Wilde's short story "The Birthday of the Infanta." The opera was composed between 1919 and 1921 and premiered on 28 May 1922 at the Cologne Opera House. The plot of "Der Zwerg" revolves around a dwarf who is given as a gift to the Infanta of Spain on her birthday. The Infanta is initially delighted with the dwarf, but soon becomes bored with him and begins to treat him cruelly. The dwarf falls in love with the Infanta and believes that she loves him in return, but when he sees himself in a mirror, he realizes that he is grotesque and that the Infanta could never love him. The dwarf dies of a broken heart, and the Infanta is left to contemplate the cruelty of her actions. The opera is divided into three movements, with each movement representing a different stage in the dwarf's emotional journey. The first movement is characterized by a sense of wonder and excitement, as the dwarf is presented to the Infanta and she is initially delighted with him. The second movement is darker and more introspective, as the dwarf begins to realize that the Infanta does not truly love him and that he is doomed to a life of loneliness and isolation. The third movement is tragic and heartbreaking, as the dwarf dies of a broken heart and the Infanta is left to confront the consequences of her actions. One of the key characteristics of "Der Zwerg" is its use of atonality and dissonance, which was a departure from the more traditional tonal structures of earlier operas. Zemlinsky's use of dissonance and chromaticism creates a sense of unease and tension that mirrors the emotional turmoil of the characters. The opera also features a complex orchestration, with a large ensemble of instruments that are used to create a rich and varied sound. Overall, "Der Zwerg" is a powerful and emotionally charged opera that explores themes of love, cruelty, and the human condition. Its innovative use of atonality and dissonance helped to pave the way for the development of modernist music in the 20th century, and it remains a landmark work in the history of opera.

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