Antigone, Op. 55: Incidental Music

Description

ANTIGONE, Op. 55 is incidental music composed by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) in 1841 for a German translation of Sophocles' tragedy by Johann Jakob Christian Donner, commissioned by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia. Scored for double male chorus, narrator, and orchestra, the work blends Classical restraint with Romantic expression, using antique-sounding choral writing and modal harmonies to evoke the solemn dignity of ancient Greek drama. The first performance took place at the New Palace in Potsdam on October 28, 1841. Though not often staged today with the full play, the work represents 19th-century interest in classical antiquity, admired for its dignified beauty and innovative dramatic integration. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 2.2.3.0: Timp: Hp: Str (4.4.3.3.3 in set): Double Men's Chorus: Narrator. Reprint edition. The vocal score (W110391), which includes only English text, is also available from the publisher.