Opera Scotland

Prima la musica e poi le parole First the music and then the words

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Tours by location

Music

Antonio Salieri (born Legnago, 18 August 1750; died Vienna, 7 May 1825)

Text

Giambattista Casti

Source

Original

 

Premières

First Performance: Vienna (Schönbrunn Palace Orangery), 7 February 1786.

First Performance in UK: Edinburgh (Usher Hall), 26 August 2007 (concert).

First Performance in Scotland: As above.

Scottish Opera première: N/A.

 

Background

Salieri's reputation as a composer of quality is beginning to emerge once again. In his day he had success as a producer of both serious and comic operas, though Prima la musica is only a minor example of the latter. It was commissioned for the same royal entertainment that gave Mozart's equally frivolous Impresario (Der Schauspieldirektor) the light of day.

 

Characters

Eleonora (soprano)

Tonina (soprano)

Poeta (baritone)

Maestro di cappella (bass)

 

Plot Summary

The business of the plot is the difficulty faced by composer and librettist when tailoring a new opera to the talents and vanities of the star singers, here two sopranos, one dramatic, the other soubrette.