Composer

:

Alexander von Zemlinsky

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1893 - 1895

First Performance

:

Oct 10, 1897

Average_duration

:

102:27

Sarema is an opera composed by Alexander von Zemlinsky, with a libretto by Leo Feld. The opera was composed between 1914 and 1917, and premiered in Stuttgart on November 17, 1920. The opera is in three acts and is set in a mythical land. The plot of Sarema revolves around the character of Sarema, a young woman who is the daughter of the king of a mythical land. Sarema is in love with a young man named Arindal, who is the son of a rival king. The two lovers are separated when Arindal is banished from Sarema's kingdom. Sarema is then forced to marry a prince from another kingdom, but she remains faithful to Arindal. In the second act, Arindal returns to Sarema's kingdom and the two lovers are reunited. However, their happiness is short-lived as they are soon captured by the prince who Sarema was forced to marry. The prince sentences Arindal to death, but Sarema offers to take his place. The prince agrees, and Sarema is sentenced to be burned at the stake. In the final act, Sarema is saved from the stake by a group of magical creatures who live in the forest. The creatures are led by a powerful sorceress who agrees to help Sarema and Arindal escape from the kingdom. The two lovers flee the kingdom and are reunited once again. The music of Sarema is characterized by its lush orchestration and complex harmonies. Zemlinsky's use of leitmotifs and recurring themes helps to unify the opera and give it a sense of coherence. The opera also features a number of extended musical passages, including a lengthy orchestral interlude in the second act. Overall, Sarema is a powerful and emotionally charged opera that explores themes of love, loyalty, and sacrifice. Its rich musical language and vivid storytelling make it a compelling work that continues to be performed and admired today.

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