.... it would be a fire hazard! Tonight we celebrate the 242nd birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791), and we start with just one of his many masterworks, the great opera Le Nozze di Figaro, a true masterpiece. Written over what is believed to be two months during the spring of 1786, and premiered two days after its completion, Le Nozze di Figaro contains many highlights that make it quite memorable.
Our other selection this evening is also considered one of Mozart's major works, the "Great" Mass in C Minor. The work is fragmentary, as Mozart left it unfinished. The parts of the work that were left in fragments have a number of editions that complete the fragments (Mozart also failed to write an Agnus Dei, so this part of the standard mass is not heard in the piece). Nevertheless, the Mass was premiered on 26 October 1783, and it is believed that Mozart spliced in parts from previous masses to fill out the Mass for the premiere. At the time of the composition, Mozart had just received his initial exposure to the works of Handel and Bach, the influence of whom is easily observed throughout the piece, yet the piece serves as a statement of Mozart's mastery of the form, and of his overall genius. Mozart later reused the Kyrie and the Gloria for his cantata Davide Penetinte, K. 469.
So when you place these two great works together with last week's Posthorn Serenade, we have quite a lovely observance of Mozart's birthday.
Composer's name is listed where notable (i.e. Classical Performance, Jazz Performance).
For more information on any of the rock, pop and Jazz music featured on this program, I frequently utilize AllMusic , an excellent free database holding a huge plethora of information about music and the artists that make it.
| Composer | Performer | Title | Genre | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W. A. Mozart |
Sylvia McNair, Lucio Gallo, Cecilia Bartoli, Boje Skovhus, Cheryl Studer, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, cond. |
Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) |
Classical, Classical era, Opera, comic opera (opera buffo) |
Deutsche Grammophon, 1994 |
|
Christiane Oelze, Jennifer Larmore (sopranos), Scott Weir (tenor), Peter Kooy (bass), Collegium Vocale, Orchestre Des Champs Élysées, Philippe Herreweghe, cond. |
Great Mass in C Minor |
Classical, Classical era, mass for chorus with soloists and orchestra |
Harmonia Mundi, 1992 |
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Last Update: January 27, 2008
Email: saxman@siu.edu