Composer

:

Hans Werner Henze

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1981 - 1983

Average_duration

:

20:57

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Orpheus Behind the Wire is a chamber opera composed by Hans Werner Henze in 1984. The opera premiered on June 23, 1984, at the Schwetzingen Festival in Germany. The libretto was written by Edward Bond, and the opera is based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The opera is divided into three movements. The first movement, "The Journey," follows Orpheus as he travels to the underworld to rescue his beloved Eurydice. The music in this movement is tense and dramatic, with dissonant harmonies and angular melodies that reflect the danger and uncertainty of Orpheus's journey. The second movement, "The Descent," takes place in the underworld. Here, Orpheus confronts the spirits of the dead and pleads with them to release Eurydice. The music in this movement is haunting and ethereal, with shimmering strings and eerie vocal lines that create a sense of otherworldly mystery. The final movement, "The Return," follows Orpheus as he leads Eurydice back to the world of the living. The music in this movement is joyful and triumphant, with soaring melodies and lush harmonies that reflect the couple's happiness and relief. Overall, Orpheus Behind the Wire is a powerful and emotionally charged work that explores themes of love, loss, and redemption. Henze's music is complex and challenging, but also deeply expressive and evocative, making it a masterpiece of contemporary opera.

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