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The Great Gallery at The Orangerie Schönbrunn, Vienna
21 Oct 2007

MOZART: Der Schauspieldirektor

Der Schauspieldirektor [The Impresario], Singspiel in one act, K486.

W. A. Mozart: Der Schauspieldirektor

Madame Herz: Edita Gruberova
Mlle. Silberklang: Krisztina Laki
M. Vogelsang: Thomas Moser
Buff: István Gáti
Mozarteum-Orchester, Leopold Hager (cond.)
Live performance, 29 July 1976, Salzburger Festspiele 1976

 

Music composed by W. A. Mozart. Libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie the younger.

First Performance: 7 February 1786, Schönbrunn, Orangery

Characters:
Frank, an impressario Speaking role
Eiler, a banker Speaking role
Buff, an actor Speaking role
Herz, an actor Speaking role
Madame Pfeil, an actress Speaking role
Madame Krone, an actress Speaking role
Madame Vogelsang, an actress Speaking role
Vogelsang, a singer Tenor
Madame Herz, a singer Soprano
Mademoiselle Silberklang, a singer Soprano

Setting: an impresario’s room in Salzburg, 1786.

Synopsis:

Gottlieb Stephanie, who had previously collaborated with Mozart in Entführung aus dem Serail, portrays the misadventures of the entrepreneur Frank who must put together a company of actors and singers while dealing with their whims, rivalries and pretensions of exorbitant remuneration. The economic problems are resolved thanks to banker Eiler’s intervention in exchange for Frank pretending to engage his lover, Madams Pfeil. The musical passages are in the second part of the job, when Frank begins the auditions of the singers. Madams Herz sings an air ranging from an initially pathetic and sentimental character to a bright conclusion, rich in virtuosities. The following air tests Mlle Silberklang. In the trio “Ich bin die erste Sängerin” the two ambitious singers confront him on who the prima donna will be, while Monsieur Vogelsang attempts to reconcile matters. The singers determine that art can thrive with all the personal ambition only through the peaceable cooperation of all their strengths.

Click here for the complete libretto.

Click here for vocal score.Schauspieldirektor_score.png

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