''Mozart'' is a in three acts with music by

Reynaldo Hahn Reynaldo Hahn de Echenagucia (9 August 1874 – 28 January 1947) was a Venezuelan-born French composer, conductor, music critic, and singer. He is best known for his songs – ''mélodies'' – of which he wrote more than 100. Hahn was born ...

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 (aesthetic), boulevard theatre. He was the son of a leading French ac ...

, 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 ...

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 In theater, a breeches role or breeches part (also pants role, pants part, trouser role, trouser part, and Hosenrolle) is a role in which a female actor performs in male clothing. Breeches, tight-fitting knee-length pants, were a standard male ...

). The story concerns the fictional adventures of

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

on a visit to the French capital. After the success of '' L'amour masqué'', 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 Palais Garnier in the 9th arrondissement. The square, in which there is a statue of King Edward VII, was opened ...

in Paris on 2 December 1925.

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

It is 1778, and in the

salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides Cosmetics, cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, ...

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 is a musical instrument played by means of a musical keyboard, keyboard. Depressing a key raises its back end within the instrument, which in turn raises a mechanism with a small plectrum made from quill or plastic that plucks one ...

; 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, technically, a child under the age of 10 who produces meaningful work in some domain at the level of an adult expert. The term is also applied more broadly to describe young people who are extraordinarily talented in some f ...

. Mme d'Épinay owns the picture of the boy Mozart by Carmontelle. 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 Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, ; ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the great writers in the French language and world liter ...

's ''

Dom Juan ''Dom Juan ou le Festin de Pierre'' ("Don Juan or The Feast of Stone") is a five-act 1665 comedy by Molière based upon the Spanish legend of Don Juan, Don Juan Tenorio. The aristocrat Dom Juan is a Rake (stock character), rake who seduces, marri ...

'' 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'', 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 Maria Aloysia Antonia Weber Lange ( – 8 June 1839) was a German soprano, remembered primarily for her association with the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Biography Born in Zell im Wiesental, Aloysia Weber was one of the four daughters ...

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 **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'') *Orchestre Radio-Lyrique, conductor: Pierre-Michel Le Conte **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 Roger Bourdin (14 June 1900 in Paris – 14 September 1973 in Paris) was a French baritone, particularly associated with the French repertory. His career was largely based in France. His daughter is Françoise Bourdin. Life and career Born in t ...

**Recording date: 17 June 1959 **Label: Musidisc / INA edition / Gaite Lyrique 201372 (CD)O'Connor, Patrick. Review of Gaîeté-Lyrique/Musidisc recordings of French repertoire. ''

Gramophone A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration waveforms are recorded as corresponding physic ...

'', March 1992, p.120-121. 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 Paris Operas set in the 18th century Operas based on real people Works by Sacha Guitry