Mozart: The Impresario/ Mozart's Circle: The Beneficent Dervish

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Mozart's The Impresario is the one-act singspiel about squabbling sopranos whose trifling nature leads audiences to assume it must be an early work. In fact, it's a mature score, written alongside The Marriage of Figaro. This recording, done with period forces, has a light, clean elegance with neither the rhythmic energy of, say, an Eliot Gardiner reading nor the vocal beauty of the (out-of-print) classic John Pritchard recording for Decca (which had Kiri te Kanawa and Edita Gruberová as the divas). Cynthia Sieden and Sharon Baker, however, make well-balanced rivals in the lead roles. Bright and agile, they're equipped for the high-flying coloratura Mozart puts their way.

There is, alas, no evidence that Mozart put anything in the way of The Beneficent Dervish, and it shows in a score that offers not too much beyond period charm. But it's of interest as one of the musical pantomimes devised by Schikaneder just before The Magic Flute (another was The Philosopher's Stone, to which Mozart almost certainly did contribute). And dramatically, if not musically, it has so much in common with Flute that it almost qualifies as a preliminary sketch. This is the premiere recording, and it's neatly put together by Boston Baroque, one of the most respected ensembles of its kind in North America. The spangled exuberance of the writing--whoever did it--comes over with relish. And the elegant, scaled-down performances of singers like John Aler and (again) Sharon Baker make the whole thing pleasant enough--although you may not want to hear it twice. --Michael White

Mozart: The Impresario/ Mozart's Circle: The Beneficent Dervish, Music, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, John Aler, Sharon Baker, Alan Ewing, Cyndia Sieden, Boston Baroque, Martin Pearlman, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, German/Austrian Classical Period Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio
Mozart: The Impresario/ Mozart's Circle: The Beneficent Dervish
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Brilliant!
  • Good recording, but rather unclimatic music per se.
  • Excellent music, Excellent Performance
 Mozart: The Impresario/ Mozart's Circle: The Beneficent Dervish
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , John Aler , Sharon Baker , Alan Ewing , Cyndia Sieden , Boston Baroque , and Martin Pearlman
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Der Stein der Weisen (The Philosopher's Stone) by Mozart, Hennebert, Schack, Gerl, Schikaneder / Pearlman, Boston Baroque
  2. Mozart: Zaide
  3. Mozart: Der Schauspieldirektor [Germany]
  4. Mozart: Ascanio in Alba / Chance, Feldman, Windsor, Rannion, Milner; Grimbert
  5. Vaughan Williams: Flos Campi; Household Music: Preludes

ASIN: B000060OJ8
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

  1. The Impresario: Overture
  2. The Impresario: Arietta: Da schlagt die Abschiedsstunde
  3. The Impresario: Rondo: Bester Jungling!
  4. The Impresario: Trio: Ich bin die erste Sangerin!
  5. The Impresario: Vaudeville: Jeder Kunstler strebt nach Ehre
  6. The Beneficient Dervish: Sinfonia
  7. Erster Akt: Suet: Hier mussen wir uns beide trennen
  8. Erster Akt: Aria: Welche nie empfunde'ne Freude
  9. Erster Akt: Duet: Liebes Weib
  10. Erster Akt: Aria: Der Drache ist den armen Mannem gut
  11. Erster Akt: Chorus: O Abdallah
  12. Erster Akt: March
  13. Zweiter Akt: Chorus: Die Manner zu fesseln
  14. Zweiter Akt: Wind Music
  15. Aria: Sofrano, fuhltest du mein Leiden
  16. Zweiter Akt: March
  17. Zweiter Akt: Ballad: Ein Jungling frisch wie Milch
  18. Zweiter Akt: The Sea Battle
  19. Dritter Akt: Aria: So bald der Mann ist allzu Gut
  20. Dritter Akt: Duet: ach, die Teure liebet mich!
  21. Dritter Akt: Recitative: Sofrano! Mein Sohn!
  22. Dritter Akt: Chorus: Vino pani
  23. Dritter Akt: Duet: Dab Manner unsre Sklaven sind
  24. Dritter Akt: Aria: Bald wird auch dieser Traum
  25. Dritter Akt: Duet: Wir sind die zwei lustigen Bauern vom Land
  26. Dritter Akt: Final Chorus: Ihr Undankbaren lebet wohl

Amazon.com

Mozart's The Impresario is the one-act singspiel about squabbling sopranos whose trifling nature leads audiences to assume it must be an early work. In fact, it's a mature score, written alongside The Marriage of Figaro. This recording, done with period forces, has a light, clean elegance with neither the rhythmic energy of, say, an Eliot Gardiner reading nor the vocal beauty of the (out-of-print) classic John Pritchard recording for Decca (which had Kiri te Kanawa and Edita Gruberová as the divas). Cynthia Sieden and Sharon Baker, however, make well-balanced rivals in the lead roles. Bright and agile, they're equipped for the high-flying coloratura Mozart puts their way.

There is, alas, no evidence that Mozart put anything in the way of The Beneficent Dervish, and it shows in a score that offers not too much beyond period charm. But it's of interest as one of the musical pantomimes devised by Schikaneder just before The Magic Flute (another was The Philosopher's Stone, to which Mozart almost certainly did contribute). And dramatically, if not musically, it has so much in common with Flute that it almost qualifies as a preliminary sketch. This is the premiere recording, and it's neatly put together by Boston Baroque, one of the most respected ensembles of its kind in North America. The spangled exuberance of the writing--whoever did it--comes over with relish. And the elegant, scaled-down performances of singers like John Aler and (again) Sharon Baker make the whole thing pleasant enough--although you may not want to hear it twice. --Michael White

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant!.......2004-01-22

As a Mozart fanatic I have 140 CDs of his compositions alone --making up nearly his entire catalogue. The Impresario is, indeed, a fine piece, but is dwarfed musically by The Beneficent Dervish. As the premiere recording of the latter, the Boston Baroque sets a high standard for all future recordings! The other reviewers are correct in saying that the Beneficent Dervish acts as almost a sketch preceding The Magic Flute, and it is evident in the brilliantly playful compositional style. The Beneficent Dervish is a must have CD for any connoisseur of Mozart or Classical period Opera!

3 out of 5 stars Good recording, but rather unclimatic music per se........2003-06-28

If you're used to listening to Mozart, you wouldn't be surprised when I tell you that this is one of his less dazzling works. (As compared to Requiem, etc.) The music on this cd is a very good recording, but the music never goes to the same places that some of his other works do. Compared to Tchaikovsky, this is much less fantastical, but much less regimentalized than Beethoven. It's some good middle-of-the-road classical music worthy for the collector, but not for someone looking for widely recognizable classical.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent music, Excellent Performance.......2002-06-07

I like "The Impresario" but what impressed me the most is "The Beneficent Dervish". It has the touch of Mozart, maybe a little too similar to "Abduction from the Seraglio", but... it is concise,rich and colorful, with lots of Turkish "Janissary" music scattered all around. I am surprised that it is not well known; I have never heard it before! If you like the music of "Abduction from the Seraglio", you will love this album.

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