''Thamos, King of Egypt'' (or ''King Thamos''; in German, ''Thamos, König in Ägypten'') is a

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...

by Tobias Philipp, baron von Gebler, for which, between 1773 and 1780,

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 ...

wrote incidental music, K. 345/336a, of an

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

tic character.

Early performances

It is not known for certain whether the music that Mozart composed was performed with the play during his lifetime. The play's première took place at the Kärntnertortheater in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, probably on 4 April 1774, by which time two choruses had been written. Performances in

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 ...

in 1776 and 1779-80 may have incorporated the orchestral interludes and the three choruses in their final form, respectively. The music was re-used in 1783 in a different play (set in India, not Egypt), ''Lanassa'', by Karl Martin Plümicke.

Roles

The only named role in Mozart's music is Sethos, the high priest ( baritone). There are parts for four other soloists ( soprano, alto,

tenor A tenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The low extreme for tenors is wide ...

and bass) and for a chorus of priests and priestesses.

Synopsis

Thamos has succeeded his father, Ramesses, as king of Egypt, but Ramesses had usurped the throne from the rightful king, Menes, who is now disguised as the high priest, Sethos. Thamos loves Sais, a priestess, but she is really Menes' daughter Tharsis, for whom the high priestess Mirza is plotting marriage to Pheron, a treacherous general. When Menes reveals his true identity, Pheron is struck by lightning and Mirza kills herself. Menes cedes his crown to Thamos and Tharsis as all ends happily.

Musical numbers

''Act 1'' *Chorus: "Schon weichet dir, Sonne" (Maestoso) *Interlude (Maestoso-Allegro) ''Act 2'' *Interlude (Andante) ''Act 3'' *Interlude (Allegro) ''Act 4'' *Interlude (Allegro Vivace Assai) ''Act 5'' *Chorus and soloists: "Gottheit, über alle mächtig!" (Allegro Moderato) *Chorus with solo for Sethos: "Ihr Kinder des Staubes, erzittert"

Recordings

Theo Adam Theo Adam (1 August 1926 – 10 January 2019) was a German operatic bass-baritone and bass singer who had an international career in opera, concert and recital from 1949. He was a member of the Staatsoper Dresden for his entire career, and sang ...

, Eberhard Buchner, Karin Eickstaedt, Dietrich Knothe, Gisela Pohl,

Hermann Christian Polster Hermann Christian Polster (born 8 April 1937) is a German opera singer ( bass). Life Born in Leipzig, the son of the concert singer and singing teacher Fritz Polster, he received his first education from his father. He was a member of the Dresd ...

, Staatskapelle Berlin, Rundfunk-Solistenvereiningung Berlin, conductor Bernhard Klee. Philips CD, 422 525. *

Alastair Miles Alastair Miles (born 11 July 1961, Harrow, England) is a British operatic and concert bass who has had an international career since the late 1980s. Biography Education Alastair Miles was educated at The John Lyon School, Harrow, and subseq ...

, Angela Kazimierczuk, Paul Tindall, Julian Clarkson,

English Baroque Soloists The English Baroque Soloists is a chamber orchestra playing on period instruments, formed in 1978 by English conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Its repertoire comprises music from the early Baroque to the Classical period. History The English B ...

Monteverdi Choir The Monteverdi Choir was founded in 1964 by Sir John Eliot Gardiner for a performance of the ''Vespro della Beata Vergine'' in King's College Chapel, Cambridge. A specialist Baroque ensemble, the Choir has become famous for its stylistic convic ...

, conductor:

John Eliot Gardiner Sir John Eliot Gardiner (born 20 April 1943) is an English conductor, particularly known for his performances of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Life and career Born in Fontmell Magna, Dorset, son of Rolf Gardiner and Marabel Hodgkin, Ga ...

. Polygram CD, EAN: 0028943755627. Also contains an appendix with Mozart's earlier versions of nos. 1, 6 and 7. * Diego Fasolis, Coro Della Radio Svizzera, I Barocchisti. RTSI MultiMedia. * Laurence Equilbey dirigiert Mozarts Frühwerk *Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on Teldec, probably the finest recording that exists, from 1980. Unfortunately, the spectacular performance from 2004 with Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Gerd Böckmann was never released on cd.

References

*Holden, Amanda (Ed.), ''The New Penguin Opera Guide'', New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. *Warrack, John and West, Ewan, ''The Oxford Dictionary of Opera'' New York: OUP: 1992

External links

* * *(Konzertmitschnitt vom 26. Juni 2018, Festival Seine Musicale, Boulogne-Billancourt.) {{Authority control Operas by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart German-language operas 1779 operas Incidental music Operas Operas set in ancient Egypt