Composer

:

Franz Schreker

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1911

Average_duration

:

181:26

Die Gezeichneten is an opera composed by Franz Schreker in 1913. The plot revolves around the character of Alviano Salvago, a wealthy nobleman who has created an island paradise for himself and his friends. However, he is haunted by a disfiguring disease that has left him marked and isolated from society. He falls in love with Carlotta, a beautiful woman who is unaware of his condition. Salvago's friend Tamare, who is also in love with Carlotta, plots to ruin Salvago's reputation and reveal his disfigurement to the world. The opera is divided into three acts and features a complex score that blends elements of late Romanticism and modernism. Schreker's use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies creates a sense of unease and tension throughout the work. The vocal writing is also highly demanding, with intricate melodic lines and challenging intervals. Die Gezeichneten premiered in Frankfurt in 1918, five years after its composition. The opera was initially well-received, but its popularity declined in the following years. It was banned by the Nazis in the 1930s due to Schreker's Jewish heritage and his perceived association with modernist art. Despite its initial success, Die Gezeichneten is now considered a neglected masterpiece of early 20th-century opera. Its themes of isolation, beauty, and corruption continue to resonate with modern audiences, and its complex score remains a testament to Schreker's innovative approach to composition.

More....