In a letter to his father on 13 October 1781, Mozart wrote, 'Why do Italian comic operas give such pleasure everywhere - in spite of their miserable libretti...?' Because the music reigns supreme: when one listens to it all else is forgotten. Why an opera is sure of success when the plot is well worked out, the words written solely for the music and not shoved in here and there to suit some miserable rhyme... The best thing of all is when a good composer, who understands the stage and is talented enough to make sound suggestions, meets an able poet, that true Phoenix. 'Two years before he had met Lorenzo da Ponte, Mozart's frustration with the present condition of opera had reached boiling point. The collaboration between the two men produced three of the greatest operas in the repertoire - Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte. Adapting the second play in Beaumarchais' trilogy, da Ponte skillfully navigated a risky path through the plot that had lead to Emperor Joseph II (da Ponte had become court poet thanks to an introduction from Antonio Salieri) banning it. Themes of greedy aristocrats and officials lording it up over the common man who struggled to make ends meet was dangerous stuff when the French Revolution was being observed with horror by the crowned heads of Europe. Mindful of this, da Ponte produced a wonderful libretto, informing the Emperor of it's revised 'non-offensive' content at every turn. Mozart was under no such constraints, and his wonderful score when set to da Ponte's words restores the daring satire and social commentary of the play in perhaps the most perfect opera ever composed. The premiere took place in Vienna in 1786.
1 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Overture
2 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 1. Cinque... Dieci... Venti... Trenta
3 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 1. Se a Caso Madama
4 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 1. Se Vuol Ballare
5 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 1. La Vendetta, Oh, la Vendetta
6 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 1. Via, Resti Servita
7 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 1. Non So Più Cosa Son, Cosa Faccio
8 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 1. Cosa Sento! Tosto Andate
9 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 1. Giovani Liete
10 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 1. Non Più Andrai, Farfallone Amoroso
- Disc 2 -
1 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 2. Porgi, Amor
2 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 2. Voi, Che Sapete
3 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 2. Venite, Inginocchiatevi
4 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 2. Che Novità!
5 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 2. Susanna, or Via Sortite
6 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 2. Aprite, Presto, Aprite
7 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 2. Esci Ormai, Garzon Malnato
8 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 2. Signori, Di Fuori
9 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 2. Ah, Signor, Signor!
10 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 2. Voi, Signor, Che Giusto Siete
11 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 3. Che Imbarazzo È Mai Questo!
12 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 3. Crudel! Perché Finora
13 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 3. Hai Già Vinta la Causa!
14 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 3. E Susanna Non Vien!
15 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 3. Riconosci in Questo Amplesso
- Disc 3 -
1 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 3. Io VI Dico, Signor
2 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 3. Sull'aria
3 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 3. Ricevete, O Padroncina
4 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 3. Ecco la Marcia
5 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 4. L'ho Perduta... Me Meschina!
6 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 4. Il Capro E la Capretta
7 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 4. in Quegli Anni, in Cui Val Poco
8 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 4. Tutto È Disposto
9 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 4. Giunse Alfin Il Momento
10 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 4. Pian, Pianini, Le Andrò Più Presso
11 Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Opera, K. 492: Act 4. Gente, Gente, All'armi, All'armi
In a letter to his father on 13 October 1781, Mozart wrote, 'Why do Italian comic operas give such pleasure everywhere - in spite of their miserable libretti...?' Because the music reigns supreme: when one listens to it all else is forgotten. Why an opera is sure of success when the plot is well worked out, the words written solely for the music and not shoved in here and there to suit some miserable rhyme... The best thing of all is when a good composer, who understands the stage and is talented enough to make sound suggestions, meets an able poet, that true Phoenix. 'Two years before he had met Lorenzo da Ponte, Mozart's frustration with the present condition of opera had reached boiling point. The collaboration between the two men produced three of the greatest operas in the repertoire - Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte. Adapting the second play in Beaumarchais' trilogy, da Ponte skillfully navigated a risky path through the plot that had lead to Emperor Joseph II (da Ponte had become court poet thanks to an introduction from Antonio Salieri) banning it. Themes of greedy aristocrats and officials lording it up over the common man who struggled to make ends meet was dangerous stuff when the French Revolution was being observed with horror by the crowned heads of Europe. Mindful of this, da Ponte produced a wonderful libretto, informing the Emperor of it's revised 'non-offensive' content at every turn. Mozart was under no such constraints, and his wonderful score when set to da Ponte's words restores the daring satire and social commentary of the play in perhaps the most perfect opera ever composed. The premiere took place in Vienna in 1786.