Carl Orff finished his first opera, Gisei, in 1913 when he was merely eighteen years old.; The opera is a heartrending story about Japanese culture. Orff found various similarities in Japanese tragedy and ancient Greek tragedies, which he persistently read. This particular story impacted Orff so much that he remained fond of Japan for the rest of his life.; The story takes place in a village school where a high-ranking official must sacrifice his own son to save the life of his master’s son. One of the most original composers of the twentieth century, Orff includes original stylistic features and tonal gestures that demonstrate his vast abilities.
