Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario), K. 486, is a comic singspiel by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, set to a German libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie, an Austrian Schauspieldirektor. Originally, it was written because of "the imperial command" of the Holy Roman EmperorJoseph II who had invited 80 guests to a private luncheon.[1] It is regarded as "a parody on the vanity of singers",[1] who argue over status and pay.
Mozart, who describes it as "comedy with music"[2] wrote it as his entry in a musical competition which was given a private performance hosted on 7 February 1786 by Joseph II at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.[3] This competition pitted a German singspiel, presented at one end of the room, against a competing Italian opera, the Italian entry being Antonio Salieri's opera buffa, Prima la musica e poi le parole (First the Music, then the Words), which was then given at the other end of the room.[1] The premiere was followed by the first of three public performances given four days later at the Kärntnertor Theater, Vienna, on 11 February.[3]
The work was written during a very creative period in Mozart's life, at the same time as his Le nozze di Figaro, which premiered later the same year, along with three piano concertos and "another dozen major works".[1]
In addition to the overture, there are only four vocal numbers in the score, and the musical content (about 30 minutes)[4] is surrounded by much spoken dialogue, typical in its day. One highlight, which Erik Smith describes as very funny, is where "each lady sings about the nobility of her art while trying to defeat her rival with ever higher notes".[1] Although it has been described as a "silly farce", Mozart appears to have taken the opportunity to write serious arias[2] and thus the "audition" of Madame Herz includes her aria "Da schlägt die Abschiedsstunde" ("There tolls the hour of departure"), while Mme Silberklang sings the elegant rondo, "Bester Jüngling" ("Dearest Youth").[2]
Performance history
Henry Edward Krehbiel's translation of The Impresario toured the United States in 1921.
The opera was first presented in the United Kingdom on 30 May 1857 at the St James's Theatre in London and given its US premiere at the Stadt Theatre in New York on 9 November 1870.[1]
In modern times, the text is usually completely rewritten for contemporary relevance, which was the case for the 2014 production given by the Santa Fe Opera. There it had "English dialogue by the British dramatist Ranjit Bolt and additional Mozart concert arias folded into the score" with the action taking place in Paris in the 1920s.[5] The cast included Anthony Michaels-Moore, Brenda Rae, Meredith Arwady, and Erin Morley.[6]
The 1966 recording by the English Chamber Orchestra (conducted by André Previn), was performed with an English libretto penned by Previn's then wife Dory Previn, who transplanted the amusing tale to the 20th century.[7]
Frank, the impresario (along with the buffo singer, Buff, who assists him) audition two actresses to be part of his new theatrical company. While both are hired, they then argue over who will get the prime role and who will be paid the most. To illustrate their strengths, each sings a striking aria to back her claim (Herz: "Da schlägt die Abschiedsstunde", Silberklang: "Bester Jüngling"). An agreement is reached when the tenor, Vogelsang, intervenes, in what Julian Rushton describes as a hilarious trio, "Ich bin die erste Sängerin" (I am the prima donna) compromise is agreed to with each receiving "large salaries and star billing".[2] The work ended with the quartet "Jeder Künstler strebt nach Ehre" (Every artist strives for glory).
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Der Schauspieldirektor The Impresario K 486 is a comic singspiel by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart set to a German libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie an Austrian Schauspieldirektor Originally it was written because of the imperial command of the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II who had invited 80 guests to a private luncheon 1 It is regarded as a parody on the vanity of singers 1 who argue over status and pay Der SchauspieldirektorSingspiel by W A MozartThe composer drawing by Dora Stock 1789TranslationThe ImpresarioLibrettistGottlieb StephanieLanguageGermanPremiere7 February 1786 1786 02 07 Schonbrunn Palace Orangery ViennaMozart who describes it as comedy with music 2 wrote it as his entry in a musical competition which was given a private performance hosted on 7 February 1786 by Joseph II at the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna 3 This competition pitted a German singspiel presented at one end of the room against a competing Italian opera the Italian entry being Antonio Salieri s opera buffa Prima la musica e poi le parole First the Music then the Words which was then given at the other end of the room 1 The premiere was followed by the first of three public performances given four days later at the Karntnertor Theater Vienna on 11 February 3 Contents 1 Composition history 2 Performance history 3 Roles 4 Synopsis 5 Recordings 6 References 7 External linksComposition history EditThe work was written during a very creative period in Mozart s life at the same time as his Le nozze di Figaro which premiered later the same year along with three piano concertos and another dozen major works 1 In addition to the overture there are only four vocal numbers in the score and the musical content about 30 minutes 4 is surrounded by much spoken dialogue typical in its day One highlight which Erik Smith describes as very funny is where each lady sings about the nobility of her art while trying to defeat her rival with ever higher notes 1 Although it has been described as a silly farce Mozart appears to have taken the opportunity to write serious arias 2 and thus the audition of Madame Herz includes her aria Da schlagt die Abschiedsstunde There tolls the hour of departure while Mme Silberklang sings the elegant rondo Bester Jungling Dearest Youth 2 Performance history Edit Henry Edward Krehbiel s translation of The Impresario toured the United States in 1921 The opera was first presented in the United Kingdom on 30 May 1857 at the St James s Theatre in London and given its US premiere at the Stadt Theatre in New York on 9 November 1870 1 In modern times the text is usually completely rewritten for contemporary relevance which was the case for the 2014 production given by the Santa Fe Opera There it had English dialogue by the British dramatist Ranjit Bolt and additional Mozart concert arias folded into the score with the action taking place in Paris in the 1920s 5 The cast included Anthony Michaels Moore Brenda Rae Meredith Arwady and Erin Morley 6 The 1966 recording by the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn was performed with an English libretto penned by Previn s then wife Dory Previn who transplanted the amusing tale to the 20th century 7 Bronx Opera performed it in 1972 2008 and in 2021 due to the COVID 19 pandemic as a video version in Zoom format 8 Roles EditRoles voice types premiere cast Role Voice type Premiere cast 7 February 1786 3 Frank an impresario spoken role Johann Gottlieb Stephanie Jr Eiler a banker spoken role Johann Franz Brockmann de Buff a buffo singer bass Giuseppe WeidmannMonsieur Vogelsang a singer tenor Valentin AdambergerMadame Herz a singer soprano Aloysia WeberMademoiselle Silberklang a singer soprano Caterina CavalieriHerz an actor spoken role Joseph LangeMadame Pfeil an actress spoken role Anna Maria Stephanie 9 Madame Krone an actress spoken role Johanna SaccoMadame Vogelsang an actress spoken role Maria Anna AdambergerSynopsis EditPlace Vienna Time 1786Frank the impresario along with the buffo singer Buff who assists him audition two actresses to be part of his new theatrical company While both are hired they then argue over who will get the prime role and who will be paid the most To illustrate their strengths each sings a striking aria to back her claim Herz Da schlagt die Abschiedsstunde Silberklang Bester Jungling An agreement is reached when the tenor Vogelsang intervenes in what Julian Rushton describes as a hilarious trio Ich bin die erste Sangerin I am the prima donna compromise is agreed to with each receiving large salaries and star billing 2 The work ended with the quartet Jeder Kunstler strebt nach Ehre Every artist strives for glory Recordings EditYear Cast Madame Herz Mlle Silberklang Vogelsang Buff Conductor Opera house and orchestra Label 10 1966 Judith Raskin Reri Grist Richard Lewis Sherrill Milnes Andre Previn English Chamber OrchestraLeo McKern as Impresario 7 CD SonyCat 88985470422Sleeve notes by George R Marek1968 Sylvia Geszty Rosemarie Ronisch Peter Schreier Hermann Christian Polster Helmut Koch Kammerorchester Berlin CD Berlin ClassicsCat 9136 Complete recording of 10 scenes including those spoken Also used in Brilliant Classics Mozart Complete Works 1974 Reri Grist Arleen Auger Peter Schreier Kurt Moll Karl Bohm Staatskapelle Dresden CD Deutsche GrammophonCat DG 429 877 2 Die Zauberflote 1975 Ruth Welting Ileana Cotrubaș Anthony Rolfe Johnson Clifford Grant Sir Colin Davis London Symphony Orchestra CD PhilipsCat 422 536 2 Zaide Also used in Philips Complete Mozart Edition1986 Magda Nador de hu Krisztina Laki Thomas Hampson Harry van der Kamp Nikolaus Harnoncourt Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra CD TeldecCat 8 43336 Salieri s Prima la musica poi la parole 1990 Edita Gruberova Kiri Te Kanawa Uwe Heilmann Manfred Jungwirth John Pritchard Vienna Philharmonic CD Decca Cat 475 7049 concert arias Eva Mei Patricia Petibon Markus Schafer Oliver Widmer Nikolaus Harnoncourt Concentus Musicus Wien CD belvedere Cat 08035 Salieri s Prima la musica poi la parole 2001 Cyndia Sieden Sharon Baker John Aler Kevin Deas Martin Pearlman Boston Baroque CD TelarcCat 80573 Der wohltatige Derwisch de by Benedikt Schack References EditNotes a b c d e f Smith 2001 p 608 a b c d Rushton 1998 p 214 a b c Opera Glass on opera stanford edu Libretto in German musical numbers only on opera stanford edu Details of the 2014 production on santafeopera org James Keller Songbirds at the Opera The Impresario and Le rossignol The Santa Fe New Mexican 18 July 2014 a b Mozart The Impresario Presto Classical Sunday Night at the Opera with Bronx Opera Company The Impresario BronxNet 8 September 2021 Spouse of Gottlieb Stephanie Recordings on operadis opera discography Sources Rushton Julian 1998 Der Schauspieldirektor In Stanley Sadie ed The New Grove Dictionary of Opera Vol 4 London Macmillan ISBN 0 333 73432 7 Smith Erik 2001 Der Schauspieldirektor In Amanda Holden ed The New Penguin Opera Guide New York Penguin Putnam ISBN 0 14 029312 4 External links EditDer Schauspieldirektor Score and critical report in German in the Neue Mozart Ausgabe Libretto critical editions diplomatic editions source evaluation German only links to online DME recordings Digital Mozart Edition Synopsis from Stanford University Der Schauspieldirektor Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Extensive list of recordings 1938 2006 and some audio Mozarteum s digital Neue Mozart Ausgabe Da schlagt die Abschiedsstunde on YouTube Judith Howarth Colin Davis conducting 1991 Bester Jungling on YouTube Yvonne Kenny Colin Davis conducting 1991 Ich bin die erste Sangerin on YouTube Kenny Howarth Barry Banks Colin Davis conducting 1991 Jeder Kunstler strebt nach Ehre finale on YouTube Kenny Howarth Banks Matthew Best Colin Davis conducting 1991 Portal Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Der Schauspieldirektor amp oldid 1152210042, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
