Composer

:

Franz Schreker

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:37

Franz Schreker's "The Starving Child" is a one-act opera that premiered on May 28, 1914, at the Vienna Court Opera. The libretto, written by Schreker himself, tells the story of a young girl who is abandoned by her parents and left to fend for herself on the streets. The opera is divided into three movements, each of which explores a different aspect of the girl's struggle to survive. The first movement, "The Abandoned Child," introduces the audience to the young protagonist and her dire situation. The girl is alone and hungry, and she begs for food from passersby. However, no one stops to help her, and she is forced to resort to stealing in order to survive. The music in this movement is tense and dissonant, reflecting the girl's desperation and fear. The second movement, "The Dream," is a surreal and hallucinatory sequence in which the girl imagines a world in which she is loved and cared for. The music in this section is more lyrical and romantic, with lush harmonies and soaring melodies. However, the dream is short-lived, and the girl is soon awakened to the harsh reality of her situation. The final movement, "The Death of the Child," is a tragic and haunting conclusion to the opera. The girl succumbs to starvation and dies alone on the streets. The music in this section is mournful and elegiac, with a sense of finality and resignation. Overall, "The Starving Child" is a powerful and emotionally charged work that explores themes of poverty, abandonment, and the struggle for survival. Schreker's music is highly expressive and evocative, with a wide range of textures and moods. The opera is a testament to Schreker's skill as a composer and his ability to create deeply affecting works of art.

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