This work represents the first of a three-part sacred drama. The complete work was performed in the Archbishop's Palace in Salzburg in 1767, but the music for the two remaining parts, written by Michael Haydn and Anton Adlgasser, has been lost. Although the work is thus dramatically incomplete, Mozart's score, which runs for approximately an hour and a quarter, makes a dramatically coherent and satisfying whole, and has received various recent revivals, including stagings at last year's Salzburg and Pesaro festivals. The music is full of tender beauty, dynamism and descriptive flair, including some extraordinarily visceral accompanied recitatives, and the young composer's innate sense of understanding and sympathy for the human condition already shines through.
This is believed to be the first UK production of the work for over 30 years, and continues the Classical Opera Company's complete cycle of Mozart's operas.
Artists:
Christian Allan Clayton
Christian Spirit Robin Tritschler
Worldly Spirit Sophie Bevan
Compassion Rebecca Ryan
Justice Madeleine Pierard
The Orchestra of the Classical Opera Company
Conductor Ian Page
Director Bill Bankes-Jones
Lighting Designer Mark Doubleday
RCA design team Cristina Ferraz, Kristine Mandsberg
New English version written by Nigel Lewis
Biographies and further information
Mozart : The First Commandment
26, 27, 28 September, 8.00 pm
Wilton's Music Hall, London E1
Tickets £14 - 45
· 7.30 pm free pre-performance talk
· 8.00 pm performance
· 9.30 pm optional champagne reception (separate ticket required)
Bookings: www.classicalopera.co.uk / tel 0845 120 7543
"Fun, fresh, though provoking and one of the best nights at the opera I can remember having"
Musical Opinion.
"That rare, marvellous thing: an evening of beautiful, unusual music played with obvious, unashamed intelligence"
The Independent on Sunday.