Mozart One-Act Operas
Bastien und Bastienne, Scipio's Dream, Der Schauspieldirektor
Mozart's operas in one-act: Bastien und Bastienne (Bastien and Bastienne), Il sogno di Scipione (Scipio's Dream), and Der Schauspieldirektor: summaries and information.
The contribution of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to operatic literature is prodigious. He was 12 when Bastien and Bastienne was premiered, and 16, with Scipio's Dream.
Three one-act operas of Mozart: Bastien und Bastienne (Bastien and Bastienne), Il sogno di Scipione (Scipio's Dream) K 126, and Der Schauspieldirector (The Impresario).
1. Bastien und Bastienne (Bastien and Bastienne)
- Libretto in German by Friedrich Wilhelm Weiskern, based on Marie Justine Benoite Favert's parody of Jean Jacques Rousseau's "Le Devin du Village"
- First Performance: Vienna, Private residence, September 1768.
- Setting: French village, a pastoral tale of the 18th century.
- One act opera
The Main Characters in Bastien und Bastienne (Bastien and Bastienne)
- Bastien, a shepherd (tenor)
- Bastienne, a shepherdess (Soprano)
- Colas, magician (bass)
Basic plot summary:
Bastienne, a shepherd girl, is Bastien's girlfriend. She's is in love with Bastien, but she complains to the magician Colas that he loves another girl. She asks Colas to help her. He assures her that Bastien loves her and is just distracted; advises her to arouse Bastien's jealousy. Colas tells Bastien that she has a rich lover. Bastien gets upset. Bastienne pretends not to mind him but when he threatens to commit suicide, she takes him back. A lover's quarrel ends with reconciliation, thanks to Colas.
2. Il sogno di Scipione (Scipio's Dream), K 126
- Libretto by Pietro Metastasio. Italian. Based on Somnium Scipionis by Cicero.
- First performance: Salzburg, Palace of the Archbishop, April or May, 1772.
- Setting: North Africa circa 200 BC. Azione teatrale.
- One act opera
The main characters in Il sogno di Scipione (Scipio's Dream)
- Fortuna, goddess of fortune (soprano)
- Constanza, goddess of constancy (soprano)
- Scipione (tenor)
- Publio, scipione's uncle and adopted father (tenor)
- Emilio, Scipione's father (tenor)
- Licenza, in closing (epilogue) (soprano)
- Chorus: as Heroes
Basic plot summary
At Massinissa's palace in North Africa and the temple of heaven.
Scipione's sleep is disturbed by the goddesses of constancy (Constanza) and fortune (Fortuna) both offering to accompany him through his life, but on one condition: they demand that he choose between them. He had difficulty deciding. Asleep, he found himself in the kingdom of Massinissa and questions the goddesses about the temple of heaven and its inhabitants. Emilio (Scipione's father) and Publio (Scipione's uncle and adopted father) appear before him. Fortuna tells him that if he chooses her (fortune), Scipione will be able to create and destroy, and manipulate evil deeds. Constanza offers him the power of loyalty, and the ability to hope for better things. Scipione chooses the goddess of constancy, in praise of heaven's eternal virtues. Licenza praises Scipio's choice.
3. Der Schauspieldirector (The Impresario)
- Libretto in German by Gottlieb Stephanie the Younger.
- Composed for Emperor Joseph II.
- First performance: Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace, February 7, 1786.
- Setting: Salzburg for Vienna in the late 18th century.
- One act opera - comedy/singspiel (60 minutes)
The Main Characters in Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario)
- Madame Herz, younger diva (soprano)
- Madame Silverklang, older diva (soprano)
- Monsieur Vogelgesang, rich banker (tenor)
- Mr. Buff, Frank's assistant (bass)
- Speaking: Frank, court impresario
Basic plot summary
A theater manager's office, 18th century.
Frank, court impresario, tries to recruit opera performers for his playhouse. He has concerns especially when his assistant, Mr. Buff, informs him that the court has decreed the season must be exclusively opera. Buff has ambitions to be a singer and assures Frank the theatre will make profits if he considers him for a role. The rich banker Vogelgesang offers to support if Madame Silverklang, his aging diva mistress, is used. Frank reluctantly accepts. Soon enough, Vogelgesang pushes another soprano, his younger mistress Miss Herz. Difficulties with the two jealous prima donnas ensue. Frank announces retirement. Vogelgesang becomes the new impresario.
Other operas written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Die Zauberflöte
- Così fan tutte
- Don Giovanni
- Le nozze di Figaro
- La clemenza di Tito
- Die Entführung aus dem Serail
- Idomeneo
- Il rè pastore
- La finta Giardiniera
- Lucio Silla
- Ascanio in Alba
- Mitridate, rè di Ponto
- La finta semplice
