Composer

:

Hans Werner Henze

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1986 - 1989

First Performance

:

May 5, 1990

Average_duration

:

109:22

Das verratene Meer (The Betrayed Sea) is an opera composed by Hans Werner Henze in 1990. The libretto was written by the German poet and playwright, Hans-Ulrich Treichel. The opera premiered on 1 July 1990 at the Munich Opera Festival. The plot of the opera revolves around a young fisherman named Niels who lives in a small fishing village on the coast of Denmark. Niels is in love with a young woman named Marie, but their relationship is threatened by the arrival of a wealthy businessman named Peter, who wants to buy the fishing rights to the village's waters. Niels and the other fishermen refuse to sell, but Peter uses his influence to have the government declare the waters a nature reserve, effectively ending the village's fishing industry. The opera is divided into three movements. The first movement, titled "The Sea," sets the scene with a chorus of fishermen singing about their love for the sea and their way of life. Niels and Marie sing a duet expressing their love for each other. The second movement, titled "The Betrayal," begins with Peter's arrival in the village. He sings a solo expressing his desire to own the fishing rights. The fishermen sing a chorus expressing their refusal to sell. The movement ends with the government's declaration of the nature reserve. The final movement, titled "The Aftermath," depicts the aftermath of the government's decision. The fishermen are forced to find new jobs, and Niels and Marie's relationship is strained. The opera ends with Niels singing a solo expressing his hope for the future. Henze's music for Das verratene Meer is characterized by its use of dissonance and complex rhythms. The score includes a variety of instruments, including a large percussion section, to create a sense of the sea and the natural world. The vocal writing is also challenging, with many of the roles requiring a high level of technical skill. Overall, Das verratene Meer is a powerful opera that explores themes of love, betrayal, and the impact of human actions on the natural world. Its premiere in 1990 was met with critical acclaim, and it has since become a staple of the modern opera repertoire.

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