Erwartung (translation: Expectation) is an opera, composed in 1909 by the Viennese composer Arnold Schoenberg. It was not premiered until June 6, 1924, in Prague conducted by Alexander Zemlinsky with Marie Gutheil-Schoder as the solo soprano. The work takes the unusual form of a monologue for solo soprano, backed up by a large orchestra. In performance, it lasts for about half an hour. It is often paired with Béla Bartók's opera Duke Bluebeard's Castle, as the two works are generally thought to be similar in character and psychological themes. Schoenberg's succinct description of the work was: "In Erwartung the aim is to represent in slow motion everything that occurs during a single second of maximum spiritual excitement, stretching it out to half an hour." ^[1] Sydney Opera House: one of the worlds most recognisable opera houses and landmarks. ... Arnold Schoenberg, Los Angeles, 1938 Schoenberg redirects here. ... Alexander von Zemlinsky or Alexander Zemlinsky, (October 14, 1871 - March 15, 1942) was an Austrian composer of classical music, a conductor and a teacher. ... Look up Soprano in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Béla Bartók in 1927 For other uses, see Bartok (disambiguation). ... A Kékszakállú herceg vára, (commonly referred to by its English name, Bluebeards Castle) is a one-act opera by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. ...

References

• Schoenberg, Arnold. Style and Idea. University of California Press, Los Angeles, 1984. ISBN 0-520-05294-3 ↑  p. 105.

External links

• Erwartung at Schoenberg.org