"Prometeo" has been described as "one of the best works of the 20th century". After the theatrical excesses of "Al gran sole", which Nono later remarked were a "monster of resources", the composer began to think along the lines of an opera or rather a "musica per dramma" without any visual, stage dimension. In short, a drama "in" music—"the tragedy of listening"—the subtitle a comment on consumerism today. Hence, in the vocal parts the most simple intervalic procedures (mainly fourths and fifths) resonate amidst a tapestry of harsh, dissonant, microtonal writing for the ensembles.