' (complete title in historical spelling: '; The Obligation of the First and Foremost Commandment), K. 35, is a sacred musical play (''geistliches

Singspiel A Singspiel (; plural: ; ) is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera. It is characterized by spoken dialogue, which is alternated with ensembles, songs, ballads, and arias which were often strophic, or folk-like ...

'') composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...

in 1767 when he was 11 years old. It is Mozart's first opera or, more specifically, ''sacred drama'', as is suggested by the name. The

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

is now attributed to , although Johann Adam Wieland or Jakob Anton Marianus Wimmer had been suggested earlier. (The title page of the libretto ascribes it only to "J.A.W.".)OperaGlass summary at stanford.edu
accessed on October 6, 2007 Only the first part of the opera was composed by Mozart; the second and third parts were contributed by Michael Haydn and

Anton Cajetan Adlgasser Anton Cajetan Adlgasser (sometimes Anton Cajetan Adelgasser; 1 October 1729 – 23 December 1777) was a German organist and composer at Salzburg Cathedral and at court, and composed a good deal of liturgical music (including eight masses and two r ...

respectively. However, these other two parts have not survived. Part 1 of the opera was first performed on March 12, 1767, in the Knight's Hall of the Palace of the Archbishop, the

Salzburg Residenz The Salzburg Residenz, also known as the Alte Residenz or Old Residence, is a palace located at Domplatz and '' Residenzplatz'' in the historic centre (''Altstadt'') of Salzburg, Austria. First mentioned about 1120, for centuries the Prince-Archbi ...

. Part 2 was performed on March 19, and part 3 on March 26.

Background and performance history

Mozart composed the work at age 11 with the help of his two teachers, Michael Haydn and

. In Salzburg, dividing up a sacred singspiel between other composers was common. The libretto was written by Ignatz Anton von Weiser even though it was said that Johann Adam Wieland suggested the idea first and his name is written on the libretto. Mozart composed only the first part of the opera, and the others composed "part two" and "part three." However, these other two parts have not survived.WienMozart2006 page on ''Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots''
, accessed on October 6, 2007 The performances were predominantly in Salzburg in St. Peter's, in Cathedrals, on the Nonnberg, and in Residenz. The opera includes many

recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name "''recitativo''" ()) is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repea ...

s for all of the characters, and each character sings one to three arias. The characters of the opera are two tenors: Christgeist and Christ (a Christian), and three sopranos: Barmherzigkeit, Gerechtigkeit, and Weltgeist. The opera does not have a chorus. Part I of the opera was first performed on 12 March 1767 in the Knight's Hall of the Palace of the Archbishop,

Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the ...

. Part II was performed on 19 March, and Part III on 26 March.OperaGlass summary at stanford.edu
accessed on October 6, 2007

Roles

Musical numbers

* Sinfonia Allegro * Recitativo: Die löblich' und gerechte Bitte * No. 1 Aria: Mit Jammer muß ich schauen * Recitativo: So viele Seelen Fall * No. 2 Aria: Ein ergrimmter Löwe brüllet * Recitativo: Was glaubst du? * No. 3 Aria: Erwache, fauler Knecht * Recitativo: Er reget sich * Recitativo: Wie, wer erwecket mich? * No. 4 Aria: Hat der Schöpfer dieses Leben * Recitativo: Daß Träume Träume sind * No. 5 Aria: Jener Donnerworte Kraft * Recitativo: Ist dieses, o so zweifle nimmermehr * No. 6 Aria: Schildre einen Philosophen * Recitativo: Wen hör' ich nun hier in der Nähe * No. 7 Aria: Manches Übel * Recitativo: Er halt mich einem Kranken gleich * Recitativo: Hast du nunmehr erfahren * No. 8 Terzetto: Laßt mir eurer Gnade Schein

Recordings

* 1978 - Edith Mathis (Barmherzigkeit),

Margaret Price Dame Margaret Berenice Price (13 April 194128 January 2011) was a Welsh soprano. Early years Price was born in Blackwood, near Caerphilly in South Wales. Born with deformed legs, she underwent surgery at age four and suffered pain in he ...

(Gerechtigkeit),

Lilian Sukis Lilian Sukis (born 29 June 1939, Kaunas) is a Canadian operatic soprano of Lithuanian birth. Her family moved first to Germany during World War II, and then to Canada in 1950. She earned a BA from McMaster University and a diploma from the Univers ...

(Weltgeist), Norbert Orth (Christgeist), Claes H. Ahnsjö (Christ), unknown orchestra,

Wolfgang Sawallisch Wolfgang Sawallisch (26 August 1923 – 22 February 2013) was a German conductor and pianist. Biography Wolfgang Sawallisch was born in Munich, the son of Maria and Wilhelm Sawallisch. His father was director of the Hamburg-Bremer-Feuerversich ...

– 2 LPs Voce Records * 1980 – Sylvia Geszty (Barmherzigkeit),

Krisztina Laki Krisztina Laki (born 16 September 1944) is a Hungarian coloratura soprano who worked mainly on the opera stage in Germany, with guest appearances in major European opera houses. She has held master classes internationally. Career Born in Érd ...

(Gerechtigkeit), Arleen Augér (Weltgeist),

Werner Hollweg Werner Hollweg (13 September 1936 in Solingen - 1 January 2007 in Freiburg im Breisgau) was a German operatic tenor. He is best known for his interpretation of Mozart's operas. Hollweg died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Amyotrophic l ...

(Christgeist), Claes H. Ahnsjö (Christ) – Berliner Domkapelle,

Roland Bader Roland Bader (born 24 August 1938) is a German choral conductor and music director. He is the principal guest conductor of the Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra and the Opera Krakowska, officially authorized as representative for their guest perfor ...

– 2 LPs Schwann Musica Sacra * 1989 –

Margaret Anne Marshall Margaret Anne Marshall OBE (born 4 January 1949) is a Scottish soprano. Marshall was born in Stirling. Her career started in the 1970s and she has sung a wide range of classical and operatic roles up to her retirement in 2004. She received the ...

(Barmherzigkeit),

Ann Murray Ann Murray, (born 27 August 1949) is an Irish mezzo-soprano. Life and career Murray was born in Dublin. Having won a number of prizes at the Feis Ceoil, she studied singing at the College of Music (now the DIT Conservatory of Music and Dram ...

(Gerechtigkeit),

Inga Nielsen Inga Nielsen (2 June 1946 – 10 February 2008) was a Danish soprano who had an active international opera career from 1971 to 2006. A child prodigy, Nielsen performed on American radio during the 1950s, beginning at the age of six, and also ...

(Weltgeist),

Hans Peter Blochwitz Hans Peter Blochwitz (born 28 September 1949) is a German lyric tenor, who is known internationally in opera and concert, especially for singing parts in Mozart operas. Career Born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on 28 September 1949, Blochwitz fir ...

(Christgeist),

Aldo Baldin Aldo Baldin (1 January 1945 - 5 January 1994) was a Brazilian opera and concert-hall tenor. His recordings include a number of Bach cantatas. Life Born in Urussanga, Santa Catarina, he was taught singing and cello by Heloisa Nemoto Vergara and J ...

(Christ) –

Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart The Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (German: ''Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR'') was a German radio orchestra based in Stuttgart in Germany. History The ensemble was founded in 1945 by American occupation authorities as the orchest ...

Neville Marriner Sir Neville Marriner, (15 April 1924 – 2 October 2016) was an English violinist and "one of the world's greatest conductors". Gramophone lists Marriner as one of the 50 greatest conductors and another compilation ranks Marriner #14 of the ...

– 2 CDs

Philips Records Philips Records is a record label founded by the Dutch electronics company Philips. It was founded as Philips Phonographische Industrie in 1950. In 1946, Philips acquired the company which pressed records for British Decca's Dutch outlet in ...

References

External links