Finding your next obsession
Finding your next obsession

Rarely has a theatrical world premiere been so warmly received as Dutch National Opera’s production of Arnold Schönberg’s late-Romantic Gurre-Lieder in 2014. The production fulfilled a fervent wish of principal conductor Marc Albrecht. The music of Gurre-Lieder is timeless, and so is its subject: a passionate, yet forbidden love. The story harks back to a Scandinavian saga, situated in Gurre. King Waldemar loves the girl Tove, who is a mysterious character, connected to both the world of people and the world of birds. The queen is jealous and has Tove killed. The Wood Dove tells of this in a moving song and the king accuses God of cruelty. A nightmarish scene follows, of a fierce army killed in battle, which rampages like a horde of ghosts. The radiant dawn at the end of Gurre-Lieder shows the insignificance of human destiny compared to the power of nature.
LUXEN Decision Guide
A character-led choice where relationships, emotion, and personal stakes are a bigger part of the experience than spectacle.
Best fit
Who it is for
Best suited to viewers who want a more personal, reflective story.
Commitment
Longer watch · 2h 20m
Use the runtime as a quick check against how much time you have tonight.
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Read the synopsis.
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Cast
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