Composer

:

Ferruccio Busoni

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

Sep 1916 - May 1923

Publication Date

:

1926

First Performance

:

May 21, 1925

Average_duration

:

175:45

Movement_count

:

43

Movement ....

Doktor Faust is an opera composed by Ferruccio Busoni, with a libretto by the composer himself. The opera was composed between 1916 and 1924, and premiered in Dresden on May 21, 1925, after Busoni's death. The opera is based on the legend of Faust, a scholar who makes a deal with the devil in exchange for knowledge and power. The opera is divided into three acts, with a prologue and an epilogue. The prologue sets the scene, with Faust in his study, surrounded by his books and instruments. He is dissatisfied with his knowledge and seeks greater understanding. The devil, in the form of Mephistopheles, appears and offers Faust a deal: in exchange for his soul, he will be granted unlimited knowledge and power. In the first act, Faust travels to the court of the Duke of Parma, where he uses his newfound knowledge to impress the courtiers and win the favor of the Duke. However, he is haunted by the memory of his deal with the devil and begins to question the value of his knowledge. In the second act, Faust travels to the underworld, where he meets Helen of Troy, the embodiment of beauty and perfection. He falls in love with her and decides to stay in the underworld with her, abandoning his quest for knowledge. In the third act, Faust returns to the world of the living, where he is confronted by the consequences of his deal with the devil. He is accused of heresy and sentenced to death. In the epilogue, Faust is taken to hell, where he is tormented by the devil for eternity. The music of Doktor Faust is characterized by its complexity and innovation. Busoni was influenced by a wide range of musical styles, including Wagner, Debussy, and Schoenberg. The opera features a large orchestra, with a wide range of instruments and complex harmonies. The vocal parts are also challenging, with intricate melodies and demanding vocal techniques. Doktor Faust is considered one of Busoni's most important works, and a landmark in the development of modern opera. Its innovative use of harmony, orchestration, and vocal techniques influenced many composers who came after Busoni, including Stravinsky, Bartok, and Schoenberg. Despite its initial lack of success, the opera has since been recognized as a masterpiece of 20th-century music.

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