• Franz Lehár's vocal cycle “Aus eiserner Zeit” and the Facets of Austrian Patriotism 1914–1918

УДК: [784:78.071.1](436)"1914/1918"

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2023-2-83-103

EDN: LPVRMR

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Alexander G. Kolesnikov

Dr. Sc. in Art Studies, Leading Researcher of the Scientific Department
Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS)
Moscow, Russia
E-mail: edvin8@list.ru

Franz Lehár's vocal cycle “Aus eiserner Zeit” and the Facets of Austrian Patriotism 1914–1918

Abstract

For the first time in Russian science, the article examines in detail the vocal cycle of Franz Lehár “From the Iron Age” (“Aus eiserner Zeit”, 1915), which reflected the realities of the First World War. The classic of the new Vienna operetta appears in this work as a tragic artist. His traumatic, personal experience causes a radical experiment. It is peculiarly inscribed in the broad German and Austrian tradition of the Lied genre. The author of the article analyzes five songs included into the series, as well as the context of their creation. Lehár's composition correlates with the concept of a political order. Thus the author comes to the following conclusion: the propaganda orientation of the composer's war songs has been transformed into a deep lyrical statement. There are highlighted the features of form and style, compositional techniques. One of the features of the composer's approach is irony on the edge of tragic grotesque. At the same time, the mastery that Lehár invariably demonstrates in stage compositions remains unchanged and obvious in the small form of the intimate composition. Attention is paid to the literary basis of the works, biographical information about the composer's co-authors, archetypes and prototypes, the concept of “patriotism” in the Austrian national and artistic tradition.

Keywords

Franz Lehár, World War I, Austrian patriotism, genre Lied, composition dramaturgy, irony.

For citation

Kolesnikov A.G. Franz Lehár‘s vocal cycle “Aus eiserner Zeit” and the Facets of Austrian Patriotism 1914–1918. Theatre. Fine Arts. Cinema. Music. 2023, no. 2, pp. 83–103.

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2023-2-83-103

EDN LPVRMR

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Received: 19.01.2023

Revised: 03.05.2023

Accepted: 12.05.2023