Composer

:

Bohuslav Martinu

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

ca. 1928

First Performance

:

Oct 22, 1969

Average_duration

:

26:40

"Les Larmes du couteau" is an opera composed by Bohuslav Martinu in 1928. The plot of the opera revolves around a young woman named Eve who is forced to marry a wealthy man named Adam against her will. She is deeply in love with a poor man named Abel, but her father forbids her from marrying him. Eve is torn between her duty to her father and her love for Abel. In the end, she chooses to marry Adam, but she is consumed by guilt and regret. The opera is divided into three movements. The first movement is called "The Wedding" and it depicts the wedding ceremony between Eve and Adam. The second movement is called "The Betrayal" and it shows Eve's struggle with her feelings for Abel. The third movement is called "The Punishment" and it portrays Eve's descent into madness and her eventual suicide. The music of "Les Larmes du couteau" is characterized by Martinu's use of dissonant harmonies and complex rhythms. The opera also features a wide range of vocal techniques, including sprechgesang (spoken singing) and melismatic singing. "Les Larmes du couteau" premiered on June 19, 1931, at the Prague National Theatre. The opera was not well-received by audiences or critics at the time, but it has since become recognized as one of Martinu's most important works. The opera's themes of love, duty, and betrayal continue to resonate with audiences today.

More....