' (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 aria In music, an aria ( Italian: ; plur ...

'') 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. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major li ...

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 Johann Michael Haydn (; 14 September 173710 August 1806) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period, the younger brother of Joseph Haydn. Life Michael Haydn was born in 1737 in the Austrian village of Rohrau, near the Hungarian border. ...

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. 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,

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 repeat ...

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=Austro-Bavarian) is the fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the Roman settlement of ''Iuvavum''. Salzburg was founded ...

. 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 Edith Mathis (born 11 February 1938) is a Swiss soprano and a leading exponent of the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart worldwide. She is known for parts in Mozart operas, but also took part in premieres of operas such as Henze's '' Der junge Lord ...

(Barmherzigkeit), Margaret Price (Gerechtigkeit), Lilian Sukis (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 Sylvia Geszty (born Sylvia Maria Ilona Wytkowsky; ; 28 February 1934 – 13 December 2018) was a Hungarian-German operatic coloratura soprano who appeared internationally, based first at the Staatsoper Berlin in East Berlin and from 1970 at the S ...

(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 (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 performa ...

– 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 Ja ...

(Barmherzigkeit), Ann Murray (Gerechtigkeit), Inga Nielsen (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 first ...

(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 ...

(Christ) – Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart,

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 i ...

References

External links