Continuing their complete Mozart opera recording cycle, Classical Opera's latest release shines a light on two early opera works by Mozart. Grabmusik was reported to be the product of a test set by the prince of Salzburg, who: "... not crediting that such masterly compositions were really those of a child, shut him up for a week, during which he was not permitted to see any one, and was left only with music paper, and the words of an oratorio... During this short time he composed a very capital oratorio, which was most highly approved of upon being performed." Performed for Holy Week the title can be translated as 'Cantata on Christ's Grave' (literally 'Grave Music'), and the anonymous text takes the form of a dialogue between a tormented soul, who is desperately lamenting the tragedy of Christ's death, and an angel. Bastien und Bastienne is the only one of Mozart's operas to have been written for performance in a private house rather than a theatre. Commissioned at some point in mid-1768 by the renowned and controversial German physician Franz Anton Mesmer, it tells the tale of two young shepherds, Bastien and Bastienne, being reconciled in love the fortune teller and magician Collas after Bastien has briefly been lured away by the attractions of a noble lady from the city. This new recording is uses Mozart's original 1767 setting of the libretto by F. W. Weiskern & J. H. F. Mu"ller, the provenance of which was only established in 1980s.

Tracklist:

Grabmusik, K. 42/35a (Original 1767 Version): No. 1, "Wo Bin Ich? Bittrer Schmerz!" (Recitative)
Grabmusik, K. 42/35a (Original 1767 Version): No. 2, "Felsen, Spaltet Euren Rachen" (Aria)
Grabmusik, K. 42/35a (Original 1767 Version): No. 3, "Geliebte Seel', Was Redest Du?" (Recitative)
Grabmusik, K. 42/35a (Original 1767 Version): No. 4, "Betracht Dies Herz Und Frage Mich" (Aria)
Grabmusik, K. 42/35a (Original 1767 Version): No. 5, "O Himmel! Was Ein Traurig Licht" (Recitative)
Grabmusik, K. 42/35a (Original 1767 Version): No. 6, "Jesu, Was Hab' Ich Getan?" (Duet)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version): Intrada
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 1: No. 1, "Mein Liebster Freund Hat Mich Verlassen" (Aria)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 1: "Du Fliehst Von Mir, Bastien?" (Dialogue)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 1: No. 2, "Ich Geh Jetzt Auf Die Weide (Aria)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version): Entrance Of Colas
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 2: No. 4, "Befraget Mich Ein Zartes Kind" (Aria)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 2: "Guten Morgen, Herr Colas!" (Dialogue)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 2: No. 5, "Wenn Mein Bastien Im Scherze" (Aria)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 2: "O, Die Edelfrau Vom Schloß" (Dialogue)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 2: No. 6, "Würd Ich Auch, Wie Manche Buhlerinnen" (Ar
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 2: "Gib Dich Zufrieden!" (Dialogue)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 2: No. 7, "Auf Den Rat, Den Ich Gegeben" (Duet)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 3: "Dieses Liebhaberpaar Ist Wahrlich Ein Rechtes Wunderwerk&qu
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 4: No. 8, "Großen Dank Dir Abzustatten" (Aria)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 4: "Es Freut Mich, Daß Du Endlich Zu Dir" (Dialogue)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 4: No. 9, "Geh! Du Sagst Mir Eine Fabel" (Aria)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 4: "Das Kann Sein" (Dialogue)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 4: No. 10, "Tätzel, Brätzel, Schober, Kober" (Ar
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 4: "Ist Die Hexerei Zu Ende?" (Dialogue)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 5: No. 11, "Meiner Liebsten Schöne Wangen" (Aria)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 6: "Da Ist Sie" (Dialogue)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 6: No. 12, "Er War Mir Sonst Treu Und Ergeben" (Aria)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 6: "O, Ich Sehe Schon, Was Dich Verdrießt" (Dialogue
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 6: No. 13, "Geh Hin!" (Aria)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 6: "Siehe Da! Bist Du Noch Hier?" (Dialogue)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 6: No. 14, "Dien Trotz Vermehrt Sich Durch Mein Leiden?" (
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 6: Und Sollte Ich Wohl Ein Solcher Narr Sein" (Dialogue)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 6: No. 15, Geh! Geh! Geh, Herz Von Flandern!" (Duet)
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (Original 1768 Version), Scene 7: No. 16 "Kinder! Kinder! Seht, Nach Sturm Und Regen" (Tr
Bastien Und Bastienne, K. 50 (2nd 1769 Version), Scene 4: No. 10, "Diggi, Daggi, Schurry, Murry" (Aria)

UPC: 635212054727
Label: Signum Classics
Release Date: 9.14.18
Format: CD

Classical Opera - Grabmusik / Bastien Und Bastienne (CD)