Why is Moses und Aron often considered Arnold Schoenberg’s greatest work?

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Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg in a suit, seated at a piano and holding a conductor's baton, appears to be conducting music in a wood-paneled room. — Arnold Schoenberg Austrian-American composer Arnold Schoenberg was one of the most influential teachers of music composition of the 20th century. He also was known for his creation of new methods of musical composition involving atonality, namely serialism and the 12-tone row.

Many consider the opera Moses und Aron, which Arnold Schoenberg began in 1930, to be his greatest work.12

The composition is frequently cited as a pinnacle of his career because it demonstrates his mastery and freedom in utilizing the 12-tone method. While this technique might appear restrictive, Schoenberg successfully employed it to create a complex and profound stage work. The opera’s significance is further highlighted by the positive reception of its music, such as the "Dance Around the Gold Calf," which was performed to great success in 1951, shortly before the composer's death.1