Composer

:

Wilhelm Peterson-Berger

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1917

"The Doomsday Prophets" is an opera composed by Wilhelm Peterson-Berger in 1916. The plot revolves around a group of doomsday prophets who predict the end of the world. The main character, a young woman named Svea, is torn between her love for a skeptic named Erik and her loyalty to the prophets. As the date of the predicted apocalypse draws near, tensions rise and conflicts erupt between the characters. The opera is divided into three movements, each representing a different stage in the story. The first movement, "The Prophets," introduces the characters and their beliefs. The second movement, "The Doubters," focuses on the conflict between the prophets and the skeptics. The final movement, "The End of the World," depicts the chaos and destruction that ensues as the predicted apocalypse arrives. Peterson-Berger's music is characterized by its lush harmonies and sweeping melodies. He incorporates elements of Swedish folk music into the score, giving the opera a distinctly Nordic flavor. The vocal writing is demanding, with soaring arias and intricate ensemble numbers. "The Doomsday Prophets" premiered in Stockholm in 1916 to mixed reviews. Some critics praised the music and the dramatic tension of the plot, while others found the story overly melodramatic and the characters one-dimensional. Despite its mixed reception, the opera has remained a staple of the Swedish repertoire and has been revived periodically throughout the 20th century.

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