Opera Mozart and Salieri
Rimsky-Korsakov's Tragic One Act Opera from Pushkin's Verse Drama
Mozart and Salieri, Opus 48, a Russian opera by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov. "Mozart and Salieri" opera plot summary, character list, and other opera information.
Mozart and Salieri (Motsart i Sal'yeri), Opus 48, is a tragic one-act, two-scene opera. Composed by Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (March 18, 1844 – June 21, 1908). The libretto is written by Rimsky-Korsakov himself, based on a verse drama of the same name by Aleksander Pushkin. It was premiered at Moscow Private Russian Opera in Solodovnikov theater, conducted by Iosif Truffi, Moscow on December 7, 1898.
Set in Vienna, Austria, 18th Century, it has set numbers with accompanied recitative with intermezzi between the 2 scenes.
The story follows the rumor, an apocryphal legend as others call it, that the older Italian composer Antonio Salieri poisoned the younger Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart out of jealousy over the latter's musical genius. Salieri became the official composer for the Hapsburg court in Vienna. Although Salieri is primarily remembered for his hindrance of Mozart's career, this allegation of poisoning Mozart has only survived in this opera by Rimsky-Korsakov.
Some 85 years later, a similar plot was produced by Peter Shaffer in his enormously successful movie hit, "Amadeus" that came at the expense of Mozart and Salieri. Sadly for Rimsky-Korsakov, during his time, this opera almost didn't get any notice outside Russia.
Main Characters
- Salieri (bass)
- Mozart (tenor)
- Mute: Blind violinist
Plot Summary / Synopsis
Act I.
Scene 1. A Room
Salieri realizes that in spite of his enormous influence at court and his own musical talents, his music is not that inspired. He berates God for giving such gifts to this "thoughtless and irresponsible" boy Mozart.
Mozart brings in a blind violinist who plays an abominable version of Voi che sapete. Salieri is not amused. He is overwhelmed by Mozart's latest musical sketches and invites him then to dinner. Salieri decides to poison his rival.
Scene 2. A Private Room in a Tavern
Over dinner, Mozart tells Salieri how a mysterious man in black came to his house to commission a requiem. Salieri poisons Mozart, who plays a part of the requiem and then goes home, sick.
Operas by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
- May Night, 1880
- The Snow Maiden, 1882
- Mlada, 1892
- Christmas Eve, 1895
- The Tsar's Bride, 1899
- The Legend of Tsar Saltan, including that famous "The Flight of the Bumble Bee"
- Tale of the Invisible City of Kitezh, 1907
- The Golden Cockerel, 1909
Sources
The Da Capo Opera by Nicholas Ivor Martin, Da Capo Press (1997)
Dictionary of Composers and Their Music by Eric Gilder, Sphere Reference (1987)
