(The Impresario), K. 486, is a comic singspiel by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, set to a German libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie, an Austrian . 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. It is regarded as "a parody on the vanity of singers", who argue over status and pay.
Mozart, who describes it as "comedy with music" 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.Opera Glass on opera.stanford.edu 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. The premiere was followed by the first of three public performances given four days later at the Kärntnertor Theater, Vienna, on 11 February.
The autograph manuscript of the opera is preserved in the Morgan Library & Museum.
Composition history 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".
In addition to the overture, there are only four vocal numbers in the score, and the musical content (about 30 minutes)Libretto, in German (musical numbers only) on opera.stanford.edu 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". Although it has been described as a "silly farce", Mozart appears to have taken the opportunity to write serious arias and thus the "audition" of Madame Herz includes her aria "" ("There tolls the hour of departure"), while Mme Silberklang sings the elegant rondo, "" ("Dearest Youth").
Performance history
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.
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.Details of the 2014 production on santafeopera.org The cast included Anthony Michaels-Moore, Brenda Rae, Meredith Arwady, and Erin Morley.James Keller, "Songbirds at the Opera: The Impresario and Le rossignol, The Santa Fe New Mexican, 18 July 2014
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.Mozart: The Impresario, Presto Classical
Bronx Opera performed it in 1972, 2008, and in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as a video version in Zoom format."Sunday Night at the Opera with Bronx Opera Company: The Impresario", BronxNet, 8 September 2021
Roles +RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 7 February 1786Frank, an impresariospoken roleJohann Gottlieb Stephanie Jr.Eiler, a bankerspoken roleBuff, a buffo singerbassGiuseppe WeidmannMonsieur Vogelsang, a singertenorValentin AdambergerMadame Herz, a singersopranoAloysia WeberMademoiselle Silberklang, a singersopranoCaterina CavalieriHerz, an actorspoken roleJoseph LangeMadame Pfeil, an actressspoken roleAnna Maria StephanieSpouse of Gottlieb StephanieMadame Krone, an actressspoken roleJohanna SaccoMadame Vogelsang, an actressspoken roleMaria Anna Adamberger
Synopsis Place: Vienna Time: 1786
Frank, the impresario (along with the buffo singer, Buff, who assists him) auditions 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: "", Silberklang: ""). An agreement is reached when the tenor, Vogelsang, intervenes, in what Julian Rushton describes as a hilarious trio, "" (I am the prima donna) compromise is agreed to with each receiving "large salaries and star billing". The work ended with the quartet "" (Every artist strives for glory).
Recordings YearCast:Madame Herz, Silberklang,Vogelsang,BuffConductor,Opera house and orchestraLabelRecordings on operadis-opera-discography1966Judith Raskin,Reri Grist,Richard Lewis,Sherrill MilnesAndré Previn,English Chamber OrchestraLeo McKern as ImpresarioCD: SonyCat: 88985470422Sleeve notes by George R. Marek1968Sylvia Geszty,Rosemarie Rönisch,Peter Schreier,Hermann Christian PolsterHelmut Koch,Kammerorchester BerlinCD: Berlin ClassicsCat: 9136. Complete recording of 10 scenes including those spoken.Also used in Brilliant Classics' Mozart – Complete Works.1974Reri Grist,Arleen Auger,Peter Schreier,Kurt MollKarl Böhm,Staatskapelle DresdenCD: Deutsche GrammophonCat: DG 429 877-2 (+ Die Zauberflöte)1975Ruth Welting,Ileana Cotrubaș,Anthony Rolfe Johnson,Clifford GrantSir Colin Davis,London Symphony OrchestraCD: PhilipsCat: 422 536-2 (+ Zaide).Also used in Philips' Complete Mozart Edition1986,Krisztina Laki,Thomas Hampson,Harry van der KampNikolaus Harnoncourt,Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra CD: TeldecCat: 8 43336 (+ Salieri's Prima la musica, poi la parole)1990Edita Gruberová,Kiri Te Kanawa,Uwe Heilmann,Manfred JungwirthJohn Pritchard,Vienna Philharmonic CD: Decca,Cat: 475 7049 (+ concert arias)Eva Mei,Patricia Petibon,Markus Schäfer,Oliver WidmerNikolaus Harnoncourt,Concentus Musicus Wien CD: belvedere Cat: 08035 (+ Salieri's Prima la musica, poi la parole)2001Cyndia Sieden,Sharon Baker,John Aler,Kevin DeasMartin Pearlman,Boston BaroqueCD: TelarcCat: 80573 (+ by Benedikt Schack)
References Notes
Sources
External links Der Schauspieldirektor: Mozart's autograph manuscript in the Morgan Library & Museum
Libretto, critical editions, diplomatic editions, source evaluation (German only), links to online DME recordings; Digital Mozart Edition "Der Schauspieldirektor", work details, Köchel-Verzeichnis, International Mozarteum Foundation Synopsis from Stanford University
Extensive list of recordings (1938–2006) and some audio, Mozarteum's digital Neue Mozart-Ausgabe , Judith Howarth; Colin Davis conducting (1991) , Yvonne Kenny; Colin Davis conducting (1991) , Kenny, Howarth, Barry Banks; Colin Davis conducting (1991) , Kenny, Howarth, Banks, Matthew Best; Colin Davis conducting (1991)