Rued Langgaard - Antikrist - Church Opera in Six Scenes (1921-23, rev. 1926-30)
 |
| Composer Rued Langgaard (28 July 1893 - died 10 July 1952) was a late-Romantic Danish composer, organist, and conductor. His then-unconventional music was at odds with that of his Danish contemporaries and was recognized only 16 years after his death. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
d Langgaard (1893-1952).
Antichrist is a philosophical-religious opera about the decline and (spiritual) fall of western civilization. It is an "atmospheric fantasia over our time", pillorying the modern lifestyle and mentality and warning against all-pervasive egoism and materialism at the expense of the spiritual values of existence. The message of the opera is that society and culture are digging their own grave but that the individual human being can find hope by becoming aware of the state of the world and opening up towards the divine.
Antichrist (final version, BVN 192)
Alternative title: Fortabelsen (Perdition) - subtitles: Church Opera, Judgement Day Scenes
Libretto by the composer.
Composed 1921-23 (in first version, BVN 170), reworked 1926-30
In two acts (prologue and six scenes) - duration c. 90 minutes
Stage performance: 2nd May 1999, Tiroler Landestheater, Innsbruck.
Conductor: Niels Muus. Director: Juha Hemánus.- Previously performed in radio and concert versions.
Orchestra: 4 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets, 4 bassoons / 4 French horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba / 2 sets of timpani / percussion / celesta, piano, harp, organ (harmonium) / strings + stage music: 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, organ, bells, thunder
More info: http://www.langgaard.dk/musik/vaerker/antikriste.htm
