
Die Frau ohne Schatten
Die Frau ohne Schatten, A LYRIC EPIC BY RICHARD STRAUSS
Written in 1919 by Richard Strauss, Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Woman Without a Shadow) is an opera in three acts, based on a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. This complex work is often considered a masterpiece of lyric theater, mixing symbolism and grandiloquence in an exploration of the themes of sacrifice and redemption.
The plot takes place in a fantasy world where an empress, dispossessed of her shadow, is given an ultimatum: she must find a human shadow before sunrise, or she will be condemned to live without a shadow, thus losing her true nature. To do this, she must convince a mortal couple, the tavern couple, to sacrifice themselves. The destinies of all the characters then intersect in a whirlwind of inner conflicts and magical transformations.
Strauss's music is marked by orchestral opulence and intricate motifs, creating a rich and haunting atmosphere. Die Frau ohne Schatten is renowned for its vocal challenges and elaborate musical texture, as well as its profound themes of identity, love and sacrifice.