Composer

:

York Höller

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1984 - 1989

Average_duration

:

161:31

Der Meister und Margarita is an opera composed by York Höller, based on the novel of the same name by Mikhail Bulgakov. The opera was composed between 1989 and 1992 and premiered on June 29, 1992, at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. The plot of the opera follows the story of the novel, which is set in Moscow during the 1930s. The Master, a writer, has written a novel about Pontius Pilate and Jesus Christ, which has been rejected by the Soviet authorities. He burns the manuscript and becomes mentally unstable. Meanwhile, Satan and his retinue arrive in Moscow and cause chaos and destruction. Satan takes an interest in the Master and his lover, Margarita, and offers to help them in exchange for their souls. The opera is divided into three acts, each with multiple scenes. The first act introduces the characters and sets up the conflict between the Master and the Soviet authorities. The second act focuses on Satan's arrival in Moscow and his interactions with the Master and Margarita. The third act brings the various plot threads together and resolves the conflicts. The music of Der Meister und Margarita is characterized by its modernist style, with dissonant harmonies and complex rhythms. The vocal writing is challenging, with many extended techniques and unconventional vocalizations. The orchestration is dense and colorful, with a large percussion section and prominent use of brass and woodwinds. The premiere of Der Meister und Margarita was a critical and commercial success, with many praising Höller's innovative approach to the source material. The opera has since been performed in many countries and has become a staple of the contemporary opera repertoire. Its themes of artistic freedom, political oppression, and the struggle between good and evil continue to resonate with audiences today.

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