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Erwartung

Erwartung is an opera in a single act composed by Arnold Schoenberg in 1924, with a libretto by Marie Pourova based on a short poem by Stefan George. The work is considered a landmark in the development of atonality, a musical style characterized by the absence of a central tonal center. The opera premiered on July 17, 1925, at the Kammermusiksaal of the Prinzregententheater in Munich, Germany.

The piece tells the story of a woman who is awaiting her lover, but he fails to

Schoenberg aimed to create an opera that would break free from traditional forms and conventions, exploiting

Interpreters and performers of Erwartung often emphasize the work's significance in the evolution of modernist music,

arrive,
leaving
her
in
a
state
of
emotional
turmoil.
The
narrative
is
largely
implicit,
with
the
music
conveying
the
character's
emotions
and
thoughts
through
a
range
of
dissonant
and
tonally
neutral
effects.
Erwartung
is
notable
for
its
unconventional
use
of
dramatic
structure,
with
the
action
unfolding
in
a
series
of
fragmented
and
unstructured
sequences.
the
expressive
potential
of
atonality
to
convey
the
turmoil
and
anxiety
of
modern
life.
Erwartung's
innovative
use
of
tonality,
instrumentation,
and
vocal
styles
has
made
it
a
widely
studied
and
admired
work
in
the
realm
of
modern
classical
music.
The
opera's
pioneering
style
and
expressive
language
have
influenced
numerous
composers,
who
have
continued
to
develop
and
push
the
boundaries
of
atonal
and
serial
music.
highlighting
its
role
in
challenging
the
listener's
expectations
and
perceptions.
The
complex
and
challenging
music
of
this
opera
presents
a
distinctive
aesthetic
experience
that
separates
it
from
the
musically
conventional
operas
of
its
time.