Composer

:

Kurt Weill

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

Jan 1946 - Nov 1946

Publication Date

:

1947

First Performance

:

Jan 9, 1947

Average_duration

:

114:12

Movement_count

:

22

Movement ....

"Street Scene" is an opera composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Langston Hughes and book by Elmer Rice. The opera was composed in 1946 and premiered on January 9, 1947, at the Adelphi Theatre in New York City. The opera is set in a tenement building in New York City and follows the lives of the residents over the course of two days. The opera is divided into three acts and features a large cast of characters, including Anna Maurrant, a housewife who is having an affair with the milkman; her husband, Frank, who is abusive and controlling; their daughter, Rose, who is in love with a Jewish man named Sam Kaplan; and a host of other characters who live in the building. The first act sets the scene and introduces the characters, while the second act focuses on the relationships between the characters and their struggles with poverty, racism, and domestic violence. The third act culminates in a tragic event that brings the community together and forces them to confront their own prejudices and biases. The music of "Street Scene" is a blend of traditional operatic styles and popular music of the time, including jazz and blues. The score features a number of memorable songs, including "What Good Would the Moon Be?", "Lonely House", and "We'll Go Away Together". One of the most notable characteristics of "Street Scene" is its use of spoken dialogue, which was unusual for an opera at the time. This technique helps to create a sense of realism and immediacy, and allows the characters to express themselves in a more naturalistic way. Overall, "Street Scene" is a powerful and moving opera that explores the lives of ordinary people struggling to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world. Its themes of poverty, racism, and domestic violence are as relevant today as they were when the opera was first composed, and its music and characters continue to resonate with audiences around the world.

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