Composer

:

Erik Satie

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

1917 - 1918

Average_duration

:

33:46

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Socrate is an opera composed by Erik Satie in 1918. The libretto was written by French poet and philosopher, Plato. The opera is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different dialogue of Plato's Socratic dialogues. The first movement is based on the dialogue "Phaedo," the second on "Symposium," and the third on "Phaedrus." The plot of Socrate revolves around the life and teachings of the Greek philosopher Socrates. The first movement, "Phaedo," depicts Socrates' final moments before his execution. The second movement, "Symposium," portrays a gathering of philosophers discussing the nature of love. The third movement, "Phaedrus," explores the relationship between love and wisdom. Satie composed Socrate in his signature style, which is characterized by simplicity, clarity, and repetition. The opera features sparse instrumentation, with only a piano and a small ensemble of strings and woodwinds. The vocal lines are also simple and unadorned, with a focus on the text and the meaning behind the words. Socrate premiered in Paris in 1918, with the composer himself conducting the performance. The opera was not well-received by audiences or critics at the time, who found it too austere and lacking in emotion. However, Socrate has since become recognized as a masterpiece of modernist opera, and is considered one of Satie's most important works. Overall, Socrate is a unique and innovative opera that explores complex philosophical ideas through simple and elegant music. Its minimalist style and focus on the text make it a challenging but rewarding work for both performers and audiences.

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