''Mozart'' is a in three acts with music by Reynaldo Hahn and words by

Sacha Guitry Alexandre-Pierre Georges "Sacha" Guitry (; 21 February 188524 July 1957) was a French stage actor, film actor, director, screenwriter, and playwright of the boulevard theatre. He was the son of a leading French actor, Lucien Guitry, and follow ...

, a

pastiche A pastiche is a work of visual art, literature, theatre, music, or architecture that imitates the style or character of the work of one or more other artists. Unlike parody, pastiche pays homage to the work it imitates, rather than mocking it ...

of the composer's early works to fit beside arias written for

Yvonne Printemps Yvonne Printemps (; born Yvonne Wigniolle; 25 July 1894 – 19 January 1977) was a French singer and actress who achieved stardom on stage and screen in France and internationally. Printemps went on the stage in Paris at the age of 12, and ...

(playing the title role as a

breeches role A breeches role (also pants role or trouser role, or Hosenrolle) is one in which an actress appears in male clothing. Breeches, tight-fitting knee-length pants, were the standard male garment at the time these roles were introduced. The theatric ...

). The story concerns the fictional adventures of

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 (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...

on a visit to the French capital. After the success of ''

L'amour masqué ''L'amour masqué'' is a comédie musicale in three acts with music by André Messager and a French libretto by Sacha Guitry, based on the work by Ivan Caryll Félix Marie Henri Tilkin (12 May 1861 – 29 November 1921), better known by hi ...

'', Sacha Guitry wanted to collaborate again with Messager, but the older composer declined. Guitry wrote to Hahn, on holiday in Cannes, who seized the opportunity with great joy, and the collaboration was excellent. It was first performed at the

Théâtre Édouard VII The Théâtre Édouard VII, also called théâtre Édouard VII – Sacha Guitry, is located in Paris between the Madeleine and the Opéra Garnier in the 9th arrondissement. The square, in which there is a statue of King Edward the Seventh, was ...

in Paris on 2 December 1925.O'Connor P. "Reynaldo Hahn". In: '' The New Grove Dictionary of Opera''. Macmillan. London and New York, 1997.

Roles

Sacha Guitry et Yvonne Printemps, Mozart, 1926

Synopsis

Act 1

It is 1778, and in the

salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon, a venue for cosmetic treatments * French term for a drawing room, an architectural space in a home * Salon (gathering), a meeting for learning or enjoyment Arts and entertainment * Salon (P ...

of Madame d'Épinay, the mistress of the house tries to persuade her godchild Marie-Anne de Saint-Pons of the advantages of a marriage to the Marquis de Chambreuil. The Marquis enters and invites Marie-Anne to play the

harpsichord A harpsichord ( it, clavicembalo; french: clavecin; german: Cembalo; es, clavecín; pt, cravo; nl, klavecimbel; pl, klawesyn) is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. This activates a row of levers that turn a trigger mechanism ...

; she dared not, as the instrument was played by the young Mozart on his first time in Paris. The Baron Grimm and La Guimard, the famous dancer and, it appears, intimate with Grimm, join the party and conversation turns to the visit to Paris of the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart when he was a

child prodigy A child prodigy is defined in psychology research literature as a person under the age of ten who produces meaningful output in some domain at the level of an adult expert. The term is also applied more broadly to young people who are extraor ...

. Mme d'Épinay owns the picture of the boy Mozart by

Carmontelle Louis Carrogis Carmontelle (b. Paris, 15 August 1717 – d. Paris, 26 December 1806) was a French dramatist, painter, architect, set designer, author, and designer of one of the earliest examples of the French landscape garden, Parc Monceau ...

. The servants Louise and Grimaud are also present. Although he has sent no news since his last visit, the subject of conversation now makes a surprise entrance. The child prodigy, now 22 and a famous musician, remains sensitive and shy, but tells the company of his journey and having read Molière's ''

Dom Juan ''Dom Juan ou le Festin de pierre'' ("Don Juan or The Feast of the Stone tatue) is a five-act 1665 comedy by Molière based upon the Spanish legend of Don Juan Tenorio. The aristocrat Dom Juan is a rake who seduces, marries, and abandons Elvir ...

'' on the coach from Strasbourg to Paris. He is warmly welcomed and, to thank his hosts, he plays the harpsichord, singing "Il faut que tu m'aimes Paris!".

Act 2

A few days later – Mozart is working at the keyboard at Madame d'Épinay's house when her young servant Louise brings him a letter. Mozart has seduced many attractive women during his visit but is unsure who he should choose; the hostess suggests the dancer La Guimard. Mozart is to compose several pieces in Paris, including ''

Les petits riens ''Les petits riens'' (French for "The Little Nothings") is a ballet in one act and three tableaux by Jean-Georges Noverre, with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and other unknown composers, first performed at the Academie Royale de Musique in Paris ...

'', which La Guimard and Vestris rehearse, while the composer successfully flirts with Guimard. Mozart then opens the letter he received: it is from his love interest in Mannheim,

Aloysia Weber ''Aloysia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are known generally as beebrushes.

Act 3

Louise's fiancé reproaches her for having made eyes at Mozart. The Marquis de Chambreuil is furious too as the composer has also been flirting with Marie-Anne (who he called Nannerl, after his sister), and sent her a letter. Baron Grimm tries to calm everyone, pointing out that Mozart will have to leave Paris soon. It then emerges that Grimm had written to Mozart's father to bring forward his departure. Grimm explains that the young man has been frittering away his time in France, his fancy alighting on one woman after another, and it would be better for everyone if he left for Germany. Mozart submits reluctantly and sadly to this decision and bids a tender farewell to the four women, and to Paris.

Recordings

*Orchestre des Concerts Français, conductor:

André Jouve André Jouve, born 1929, died 2 March 2019 was a French conductor and radio producer, active mainly in France, who left a number of recordings and was for many years associated with classical music on French Radio.André Jouve - Ils nous ont quitt ...

**Principal singers: Annie Rozanne, Annie Ducaux, Maurice Escande **Recording date: 15 and 16 June 1955 **Label: EMI, CZS 5 68286 2 (CD) (released with extracts from ''

Ciboulette ''Ciboulette'' is a French opérette in three acts, music by Reynaldo Hahn, libretto by Robert de Flers and Francis de Croisset, first performed at the Théâtre des Variétés, in Paris, on 7 April 1923. One of the most elegant and refined compo ...

'') *Orchestre Radio-Lyrique, conductor:

Pierre-Michel Le Conte Pierre-Michel Le Conte (6 March 1921 – 16 October 2000) was a French Conducting, conductor. Biography Born in Rouen, at age 5 Le Conte entered the . Then he began piano and violin studies at the École normale de musique de Paris. He finishe ...

**Principal singers:

Géori Boué Georgette "Géori" Boué (16 October 1918 – 5 January 2017) was a French soprano, particularly associated with the French repertory, especially Marguérite, '' Thais'' and Salomé (Massenet). She was born in Toulouse. Following her career in ...

, Huguette Hennetier, Roger Bourdin **Recording date: 17 June 1959 **Label: Musidisc / INA edition / Gaite Lyrique 201372 (CD) Yvonne Printemps recorded excerpts from the piece in July 1929, including "C'est la saison d'amour" and "Je t'aime" (available on ''La Saison d'Amour'', Pearl CD) and "Depuis ton départ, mon amour" and "Alors, adieu, donc, mon amour" (available on ''Yvonne Printemps: Arias and Songs'' EMI CD).

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mozart (comedie musicale) French-language operas Operas by Reynaldo Hahn Comédies musicales 1925 operas Operas Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in fiction Operas set in France Operas set in the 18th century Operas based on real people Works by Sacha Guitry