Composer

:

Kurt Weill

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

Jan 1930 - May 1930

Publication Date

:

1930

First Performance

:

Jun 23, 1930

Average_duration

:

29:03

Movement_count

:

11

Movement ....

Der Jasager is an opera composed by Kurt Weill with a libretto by Bertolt Brecht. The opera was composed in 1930 and premiered on June 30, 1930, at the Stadttheater in Zurich, Switzerland. The opera is based on a Japanese play called Taniko, which was translated into German by Elisabeth Hauptmann. The plot of Der Jasager revolves around a young boy who is on a hiking trip with his schoolteacher and fellow students. The boy becomes ill and is unable to continue the journey. The schoolteacher tells the boy that according to their customs, if someone becomes ill on a journey, they must be left behind to die. The boy agrees to this custom, and the schoolteacher and one of the students stay behind with him while the others continue on their journey. The opera is divided into two movements. The first movement is called "The Decision" and the second movement is called "The Execution." In the first movement, the schoolteacher explains the custom to the boy and asks him if he wants to follow it. The boy agrees, and the schoolteacher and one of the students stay behind with him. In the second movement, the schoolteacher and the student help the boy to die, and then they continue on their journey. One of the characteristics of Der Jasager is its use of music to convey the emotions of the characters. Weill's music is often dissonant and atonal, which reflects the tension and conflict in the story. The opera also features a chorus, which represents the collective voice of the students and the community. Overall, Der Jasager is a powerful and thought-provoking opera that explores themes of tradition, duty, and sacrifice. It is a testament to the collaboration between Weill and Brecht, and it remains a significant work in the canon of 20th-century opera.

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