Composer

:

Viktor Ullmann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:47

"Der müde Soldat" is a one-act opera composed by Viktor Ullmann in 1941. The opera premiered on May 8, 1941, at the Neue Deutsche Opernhaus in Prague. The libretto was written by the composer himself, based on a play by Ferdinand Bruckner. The opera consists of three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is a lively and energetic march, representing the soldier's enthusiasm and patriotism at the beginning of the war. The second movement is a slow and mournful lament, representing the soldier's disillusionment and despair as he experiences the horrors of war. The final movement is a frenzied and chaotic dance, representing the soldier's descent into madness and his ultimate demise. The music of "Der müde Soldat" is characterized by its use of dissonance, atonality, and unconventional harmonies. Ullmann's music is often described as being influenced by the Second Viennese School, particularly the music of Arnold Schoenberg. However, Ullmann also incorporates elements of jazz and popular music into his score, giving the opera a unique and eclectic sound. The opera's themes of war, disillusionment, and madness are particularly poignant given the historical context in which it was composed. Ullmann was a Jewish composer living in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, and he was ultimately deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, where he was killed in 1944. "Der müde Soldat" is a powerful testament to the human cost of war and the devastating effects it can have on individuals and society as a whole.

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