Composer

:

Alfred Bruneau

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Suite

Average_duration

:

20:19

L'attaque du moulin is an opera composed by Alfred Bruneau, with a libretto by Émile Zola. The opera premiered on November 23, 1893, at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, France. The opera is divided into four acts and tells the story of a group of soldiers who attack a mill during the Franco-Prussian War. The main character, Françoise, is a young woman who lives in the mill and is caught in the middle of the conflict. The opera explores themes of war, love, and betrayal. The first act begins with a peaceful scene at the mill, where Françoise is singing and working. The soldiers arrive and demand that the miller grind their grain. Françoise is attracted to one of the soldiers, Jean, and they begin a secret romance. In the second act, the soldiers plan to attack a nearby village. Jean is torn between his duty as a soldier and his love for Françoise. He ultimately decides to warn the villagers of the impending attack, which leads to his arrest and execution. The third act takes place during the attack on the mill. Françoise is forced to choose between her loyalty to the soldiers and her love for Jean. She ultimately helps the villagers defend the mill, but Jean is killed in the battle. The final act deals with the aftermath of the attack. Françoise is left alone and grieving, and the soldiers are punished for their actions. The opera ends with Françoise singing a mournful aria, lamenting the loss of her lover and the destruction caused by war. L'attaque du moulin is known for its realistic portrayal of war and its effects on civilians. Bruneau's music is characterized by its use of leitmotifs and its dramatic orchestration. The opera was well-received at its premiere and has since been performed in various productions around the world.

More....