Composer

:

Alexander von Zemlinsky

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Incidental Music

Compose Date

:

1913 - 1915

Average_duration

:

26:27

Movement_count

:

11

Movement ....

Cymbeline is an opera composed by Alexander von Zemlinsky, with a libretto by the composer himself, based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name. The opera was composed between 1900 and 1902, and premiered on May 14, 1907, at the Neues Deutsches Theater in Prague. The opera is divided into three acts, with each act consisting of several scenes. The first act introduces the characters and sets up the plot, which revolves around the love story of Imogen, the daughter of King Cymbeline, and Posthumus, a nobleman. The second act focuses on the trials and tribulations of the main characters, including Imogen's banishment and Posthumus's exile. The third act brings the story to a dramatic conclusion, with the resolution of the various conflicts and the eventual happy ending. Zemlinsky's music for Cymbeline is characterized by its lush harmonies, intricate orchestration, and expressive melodies. The composer's use of leitmotifs, or recurring musical themes associated with specific characters or ideas, is particularly notable. The opera also features a number of extended musical passages, including a lengthy orchestral prelude to the third act and a hauntingly beautiful aria for Imogen in the second act. Overall, Cymbeline is a powerful and emotionally charged work that showcases Zemlinsky's considerable talents as a composer. While it may not be as well-known as some of his other works, such as his opera Der Zwerg or his Lyric Symphony, it remains a testament to his skill and creativity as a composer.

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