Composer

:

Alexander von Zemlinsky

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1930 - 1932

First Performance

:

Oct 14, 1933

Average_duration

:

123:49

Der Kreidekreis (The Chalk Circle) is an opera composed by Alexander von Zemlinsky in 1931. The libretto was written by the Austrian writer and playwright, Karl Schönherr, based on a Chinese play by Li Xingdao. The opera premiered on March 20, 1933, at the Stadttheater in Zurich, Switzerland. The plot of Der Kreidekreis revolves around a young woman named Ma, who is forced to flee her home during a revolution. She takes with her a baby, which she finds abandoned on the road. Ma is pursued by soldiers who want to kill her and take the baby. She seeks refuge in a temple, where she meets a young man named Simon. Simon falls in love with Ma and agrees to help her protect the baby. The soldiers eventually catch up with Ma and Simon, and a judge is called to decide who should have custody of the baby. The judge devises a test to determine who the baby's true mother is. He draws a chalk circle on the ground and places the baby in the center. He then tells Ma and the baby's biological mother to each take hold of one of the baby's arms and pull. The woman who can pull the baby out of the circle will be deemed the true mother. Ma, who has grown to love the baby as her own, refuses to participate in the test. The judge declares her unfit to be a mother and awards custody of the baby to its biological mother. However, Simon steps forward and claims that he is the baby's father. The judge orders a second test, in which Simon and the baby's biological father must each take hold of one of the baby's legs and pull. Simon is able to pull the baby out of the circle, and he and Ma are allowed to keep the baby. The music of Der Kreidekreis is characterized by its use of atonality and dissonance, which were hallmarks of Zemlinsky's style. The opera is divided into three movements, each of which corresponds to a different act of the story. The first movement is marked by its use of percussion and brass instruments, which create a sense of tension and urgency. The second movement is more lyrical and features a duet between Ma and Simon. The final movement is marked by its use of choral music, which underscores the importance of the judge's decision. Overall, Der Kreidekreis is a powerful and emotionally charged opera that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the bonds between parents and children. Its premiere was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and it remains a popular work in the operatic repertoire to this day.

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