Mozart & Rossini
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gioacchino Rossini are among the most revered composers of their respective eras and this concert in St Mark's Anglican Church in Florence gives audiences the chance to enjoy some of their best works. Rossini, who was born within just a few months of the tragically early death of Mozart, was greatly influenced by his Austrian counterpart. The Italian composer once wrote that Mozart had been the inspiration of his youth, going on to remark that his music represented the desperation of his middle age as well as much consolation during his older years. Featuring notable arias and duets from both composers, this concert series also includes songs by Francesco Paolo Tosti, the Italian composer and music teacher who is noted for his remarkably light-hearted songwriting abilities.
The programme opens with Mozart's stunning operatic music including works that feature in three of his most famous operas. Arias and duets from The Marriage of Figaro commence proceedings followed by selected music from The Magic Flute. With an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte, The Marriage of Figaro was first performed at the Burgtheater in Vienna on 1 May 1786 and it signalled some of the success that would soon follow in the composer's career. For its part, The Magic Flute debuted on 30 September 1791 at Vienna's suburban Theater auf der Wieden, and, written in German, was a considerable hit. This section of the concert also includes arias and duets from Don Giovanni, a two-act opera that premiered on 29 October 1787 just one day after Mozart completed scoring it. Following renditions of music from this dramma giocoso, in which Mozart blends comedy, melodrama and supernatural story-telling, the music of Rossini takes centre stage.
Two operas by Rossini feature in these delightful Florentine concerts at St Mark's, The Barber of Seville and La Cenerentola. The first has an Italian libretto which, written by Cesare Sterbini, reworked an earlier French comedy. The opera was performed for the first time on 20 February 1816 at the Teatro Argentina, Rome. An opera buffa, it is widely considered to be the leading comic opera of the time. La Cenerentola, which premiered at the Teatro Valle in Rome on 25 January 1817, built on the success of The Barber of Seville. It is a two-act opera that is loosely based on the Cinderella folk tale that is known and loved all over the world. It includes numerous memorable melodies and some of the very best ones are performed during these concerts.
Mozart & Rossini at St. Mark's concludes with a selection of love songs by Francesco Paolo Tosti. A much-admired songwriter of the so-called Belle Époque of European culture that coincided with his career, Tosti is known for his naturally singable melodies. As such, his love songs constitute a fitting end to each concert with a tunefulness that will linger long after the final melody has been sung.