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jeudi 19 août 2010

Lucio Silla - Mozart (2007)

Lucio Silla, K. 135, is an Italian opera in three acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The libretto was written by Giovanni de Gamerra. It was first performed on 26 December 1772 at the Regio Ducal Teatro in Milan. Other operas with the same title were also composed by Pasquale Anfossi (1774), and Johann Christian Bach (1776).

The story concerns the Roman dictator Lucio Silla (Lucius Sulla) who lusts after Giunia, the daughter of his enemy Caius Marius. Giunia, on the other hand, loves the exiled senator Cecilio.

Le dictateur romain Lucio Silla convoite Giunia, la fille de son ennemi Marius. Giunia, de son côté, aime le sénateur exilé Cecilio:
Cecilio, un sénateur romain, jadis exilé par Lucio Silla, retourne dans son pays pour rejoindre sa bien aimée Giunia. Son ami Cinna lui annonce qu'elle est fiancée avec Lucio Silla, dictateur du pays. Convaincue que son bien aimé est mort comme son père de la main du dictateur, Giunia pleure sa perte. Elle repousse les avances de Lucio Silla, lui disant qu'elle n'épousera jamais le tyran responsable de la mort de son père et de son fiancé. Lors de sa visite quotidienne sur la tombe de son père, elle rencontre Cecilio.....

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lundi 21 juin 2010

Il Sogno di Scipione - Mozart (2007)

Fortuna and Constanza approach the sleeping Scipio (Scipio Africanus the Younger) and offer to accompany him through life. However, first he has to choose between Fortuna, the provider of the world’s good things, and the reliable, trustworthy Constanza. Scipio asks for time to think. Neither in his heart nor mind can he take in what has happened, nor can he choose.
Fortuna and Constanza permit him to ask questions: he wants to know where he is. He fell asleep in the kingdom of Massinissa, but now has no idea of where he is. Fortuna tells him that he is in the Temple of Heaven. The magnificent lights are the stars against the blue background of the universe. He can hear the music of the harmony of the spheres......

Fortuna et Constanza s’approchent de Scipion endormi et offrent de l’accompagner dans sa vie. Cependant, il doit d’abord choisir entre Fortuna, la pourvoyeuse des richesses du monde, et Constanza la sérieuse et digne de confiance. Scipion demande du temps pour réfléchir. Ni son cœur ni son esprit ne peuvent comprendre ce qui est arrivé, il ne peut non plus choisir. Fortuna et Constanza lui permettent de poser des questions : il veut savoir où il est. Il s’était endormi dans le royaume de Massinissa, mais maintenant il n’a aucune idée de l’endroit où il se trouve. Fortuna lui dit qu’il est dans le Temple du Paradis. Les lumières magnifiques sont les étoiles accrochées au fond bleu de l’univers. Il peut entendre la musique des harmonies des sphères.....

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dimanche 20 juin 2010

Ascanio in Alba - Mozart (2007)

The opening scene introduces Venus and Ascanio, the son she had by Aeneas. The goddess vaunts the charms of Alba and invites her son to go and rule there. She urges him not to reveal his identity to Silvia, a nymph to whom he is betrothed, but to introduce himself to her under a false identity to test her virtue. While shepherds summon their promised ruler, Fauno reveals that the smiling face of Aceste, a priest, is a sign that the day will be a day of supreme happiness. Obeying the goddess, Ascanio pretends to be a foreigner attracted by the beauties of the place....

La scène d’ouverture montre Vénus et Ascanio, le petit-fils d’Enée. La déesse vante les charmes d’Alba et invite son fils à y aller et à y régner. Elle le presse de ne pas révéler son identité à Silvia, une nymphe avec qui il est fiancé, mais de se présenter à elle sous une fausse identité pour tester sa vertu. Pendant que les bergers appellent le souverain qu’on leur a promis, Fauno révèle que le visage souriant d’Aceste, un prêtre, est un signe que le jour sera un jour de grand bonheur. Obéissant à la déesse, Ascanio prétend être un étranger attiré par les beautés de l’endroit....

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Apollo et Hyacinthus - Mozart (2007)

In 1767, Mozart, an 11 years old child, composed his first two stage works: Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebotes K. 35 (which is actually a sacred drama) and Apollo et Hyacinthus K. 38 (which is Mozart's first true opera).

Apollo et Hyacinthus was written to a Latin libretto which is based on Ovid's Metamorphoses. Hyacinth died due to a discus thrown by Apollo, which was blown off course by the wind god Zephyrus, out of jealousy. After he died, Apollo made a flower, the hyacinth out of his blood. The stage director John Dew created a charming show as if it were a reconstruction of an opera seria, which is presented in a late Baroque theater. Settings and costumes are baroque style and the singers are imitating baroque theater gestures. The young singers are all excellent, but one must mention tenor Maximilian Kiener in the role of Hyacinth's father Oebalus and Christiane Karg as his sister Melia. The section I liked best in this early work is their duet near the end of the opera, where they are lamenting over Hyacinth's death. This is extremely beautiful and sublime music conveying deep emotions, with the two voices blending perfectly to an accompaniment of strings pizzicati. It is amazing that eleven years old boy could compose music that has strong feeling of grief. Another proof, if there is a need, for Mozart being an unparalleled unique genius. The work lasts 75 minutes.

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Die Schuldigkeit des Ersten Gebots - Mozart (2007)

Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebotes (The Obligation of the First and Foremost Commandment) was first performed on March 12, 1767 in the Knight's Hall of the Palace of the Archbishop, Salzburg. Only the first part of the piece was composed by Mozart, the second and third were completed by Michael Haydn and Anton Cajetan Adlgasser respectively, but are lost now. Mozart part last about 85 minutes. The plot is about an Ein lauer und hinnach eifriger Christ (a half-hearted but later zealous Christian) that is torn between two worlds. The first is represented by Christgeist (Spirit of Christianity - in this production is personified as a priest) and Weltgeist (Worldliness - in this production is personified as a devil). The stage has the Tables of the Covenant at its two sides with charming settings in the form of Middle Ages paintings. Christiane Karg sings here outstandingly as the devil in a colorful green-red outfit. Bernhard Berchtold is very good as the priest.

The Sinfonieorchester der Universität Mozarteum plays with energy and vigor for Josef Wallnig. This DVD is a winner, one of the best in the Mozart 22 series. This is an exemplary production of two rare works. Very highly recommended!!

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