Composer

:

Rued Langgaard

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Average_duration

:

93:13

Antikrist is an opera composed by Danish composer Rued Langgaard in 1921-1922. The opera is based on the biblical story of the Antichrist and his battle with Christ. The plot revolves around the Antichrist, who is born to a virgin mother and grows up to become a powerful and charismatic leader. He gains a large following and begins to spread his message of hate and destruction, leading to a final confrontation with Christ. The opera is divided into three movements, each representing a different stage in the battle between the Antichrist and Christ. The first movement, titled "The Birth of the Antichrist," introduces the character of the Antichrist and his rise to power. The second movement, "The Reign of the Antichrist," depicts the Antichrist's rule and the chaos and destruction that follow. The final movement, "The Battle of Armageddon," portrays the final confrontation between the Antichrist and Christ. The music of Antikrist is characterized by its intense and dramatic nature, with Langgaard using dissonant harmonies and unconventional orchestration to create a sense of unease and tension. The opera also features a large chorus, which is used to great effect in the climactic scenes of the final movement. Antikrist premiered in Copenhagen in 1926, but was met with mixed reviews and was not performed again until 1979. Despite its initial reception, the opera has since gained a reputation as one of Langgaard's most important works and is considered a landmark in Danish opera.

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