Composer

:

Arnold Schoenberg

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

May 1930 - Mar 1932

Average_duration

:

104:22

Moses und Aron is an opera composed by Arnold Schoenberg between 1930 and 1932. The opera is based on the biblical story of Moses and his brother Aaron, who lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The plot revolves around the conflict between Moses, who believes in the power of the word, and Aaron, who believes in the power of the image. The opera premiered in Zurich in 1957, five years after Schoenberg's death. The premiere was conducted by Hans Rosbaud and directed by Jean-Marie Villégier. The opera was later performed in Vienna in 1966, where it was conducted by Karl Böhm and directed by Jean-Louis Barrault. Moses und Aron is divided into three acts, each with its own distinct musical style. The first act is characterized by a complex, atonal style, while the second act features a more tonal, lyrical style. The third act is a combination of the two styles, with a focus on the conflict between Moses and Aaron. The opera is known for its use of sprechgesang, a style of singing that is halfway between speaking and singing. This style is used to convey the text in a more naturalistic way, without sacrificing the musicality of the piece. Moses und Aron is also notable for its use of a large orchestra, which includes a wide range of percussion instruments, including a siren and a whip. The use of these instruments adds to the dramatic tension of the piece, and helps to create a sense of chaos and confusion. Overall, Moses und Aron is a complex and challenging opera that explores themes of faith, power, and the nature of truth. Its innovative musical style and use of sprechgesang have made it a landmark work in the history of opera.

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