Der Schauspieldirektor

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title: "Der Schauspieldirektor" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["operas-by-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart", "german-language-operas", "singspiele", "1786-operas", "operas", "one-act-operas", "works-about-theatre"] description: "Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Schauspieldirektor" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox opera"]

Field	Value
name	Der Schauspieldirektor
type	Singspiel
composer	W. A. Mozart
image	Mozart drawing Doris Stock 1789.jpg
caption	The composer, drawing by Dora Stock, 1789
translated_name	The Impresario
librettist	Gottlieb Stephanie
language	German
premiere_date
premiere_location	Schönbrunn Palace Orangery, Vienna
::

| name = Der Schauspieldirektor | type = Singspiel | composer = W. A. Mozart | image = Mozart drawing Doris Stock 1789.jpg | caption = The composer, drawing by Dora Stock, 1789 | translated_name = The Impresario | librettist = Gottlieb Stephanie | language = German | premiere_date = | premiere_location = Schönbrunn Palace Orangery, Vienna Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario), K. 486, is a comic singspiel by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, set to a German libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie, an Austrian Schauspieldirektor. Originally, it was written because of "the imperial command" of the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II who had invited 80 guests to a private luncheon. It is regarded as "a parody on the vanity of singers", who argue over status and pay.

Mozart, who describes it as "comedy with music" This competition pitted a German singspiel, presented at one end of the room, against a competing Italian opera, the Italian entry being Antonio Salieri's opera buffa, Prima la musica e poi le parole (First the Music, then the Words), which was then given at the other end of the room. The premiere was followed by the first of three public performances given four days later at the Kärntnertor Theater, Vienna, on 11 February.

The autograph manuscript of the opera is preserved in the Morgan Library & Museum.

Composition history

The work was written during a very creative period in Mozart's life, at the same time as his Le nozze di Figaro, which premiered later the same year, along with three piano concertos and "another dozen major works".

In addition to the overture, there are only four vocal numbers in the score, and the musical content (about 30 minutes) is surrounded by much spoken dialogue, typical in its day. One highlight, which Erik Smith describes as very funny, is where "each lady sings about the nobility of her art while trying to defeat her rival with ever higher notes". and thus the "audition" of Madame Herz includes her aria "Da schlägt die Abschiedsstunde" ("There tolls the hour of departure"), while Mme Silberklang sings the elegant rondo, "Bester Jüngling" ("Dearest Youth").

Performance history

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Highland_Echo_1915-1925_(1915)_(14598141739).jpg" caption="[[Henry Edward Krehbiel]]'s translation of ''The Impresario'' toured the United States in 1921."] ::

The opera was first presented in the United Kingdom on 30 May 1857 at the St James's Theatre in London and given its US premiere at the Stadt Theatre in New York on 9 November 1870.

In modern times, the text is usually completely rewritten for contemporary relevance, which was the case for the 2014 production given by the Santa Fe Opera. There it had "English dialogue by the British dramatist Ranjit Bolt and additional Mozart concert arias folded into the score" with the action taking place in Paris in the 1920s. The cast included Anthony Michaels-Moore, Brenda Rae, Meredith Arwady, and Erin Morley.

The 1966 recording by the English Chamber Orchestra (conducted by André Previn), was performed with an English libretto penned by Previn's then wife Dory Previn, who transplanted the amusing tale to the 20th century.

Bronx Opera performed it in 1972, 2008, and in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as a video version in Zoom format.

Roles

::data[format=table title="{{sronly|Roles, voice types, premiere cast}}"]

Role	Voice type	Premiere cast, 7 February 1786
Frank, an impresario	spoken role	Johann Gottlieb Stephanie Jr.
Eiler, a banker	spoken role
Buff, a buffo singer	bass	Giuseppe Weidmann
Monsieur Vogelsang, a singer	tenor	Valentin Adamberger
Madame Herz, a singer	soprano	Aloysia Weber
Mademoiselle Silberklang, a singer	soprano	Caterina Cavalieri
Herz, an actor	spoken role	Joseph Lange
Madame Pfeil, an actress	spoken role	Anna Maria Stephanie
Madame Krone, an actress	spoken role	Johanna Sacco
Madame Vogelsang, an actress	spoken role	Maria Anna Adamberger
::

Synopsis

:Place: Vienna :Time: 1786

Frank, the impresario (along with the buffo singer, Buff, who assists him) auditions two actresses to be part of his new theatrical company. While both are hired, they then argue over who will get the prime role and who will be paid the most. To illustrate their strengths, each sings a striking aria to back her claim (Herz: "Da schlägt die Abschiedsstunde", Silberklang: "Bester Jüngling"). An agreement is reached when the tenor, Vogelsang, intervenes, in what Julian Rushton describes as a hilarious trio, "Ich bin die erste Sängerin" (I am the prima donna) compromise is agreed to with each receiving "large salaries and star billing". The work ended with the quartet "Jeder Künstler strebt nach Ehre" (Every artist strives for glory).

Recordings

::data[format=table] | Year | Cast: Madame Herz, Mlle Silberklang, Vogelsang, Buff | Conductor, Opera house and orchestra | Label | |---|---|---|---| | 1966 | Judith Raskin, Reri Grist, Richard Lewis, Sherrill Milnes | André Previn, English Chamber Orchestra Leo McKern as Impresario | CD: Sony Cat: 88985470422 Sleeve notes by George R. Marek | | 1968 | Sylvia Geszty, Rosemarie Rönisch, Peter Schreier, Hermann Christian Polster | Helmut Koch, Kammerorchester Berlin | CD: Berlin Classics Cat: 9136. Complete recording of 10 scenes including those spoken. Also used in Brilliant Classics' Mozart – Complete Works. | | 1974 | Reri Grist, Arleen Auger, Peter Schreier, Kurt Moll | Karl Böhm, Staatskapelle Dresden | CD: Deutsche Grammophon Cat: DG 429 877-2 (+ Die Zauberflöte) | | 1975 | Ruth Welting, Ileana Cotrubaș, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Clifford Grant | Sir Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra | CD: Philips Cat: 422 536-2 (+ Zaide). Also used in Philips' Complete Mozart Edition | | 1986 | {{ill|Magda Nádor|de | hu|Nádor Magda}}, Krisztina Laki, Thomas Hampson, Harry van der Kamp | Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra | | 1990 | Edita Gruberová, Kiri Te Kanawa, Uwe Heilmann, Manfred Jungwirth | John Pritchard, Vienna Philharmonic | CD: Decca, Cat: 475 7049 (+ concert arias) | | | , Patricia Petibon, Markus Schäfer, : Oliver Widmer | Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien | CD: belvedere Cat: 08035 (+ Salieri's Prima la musica, poi la parole) | | 2001 | Cyndia Sieden, Sharon Baker, John Aler, Kevin Deas | Martin Pearlman, Boston Baroque | CD: Telarc Cat: 80573 (+ ** by Benedikt Schack) | ::

References

Notes

Sources

References

1. {{harvnb. Smith. 2001
2. wrote it as his entry in a musical competition which was given a private performance hosted on 7 February 1786 by Joseph II at the [[Schönbrunn Palace]] in Vienna.[http://opera.stanford.edu/Mozart/Schauspieldirektor/main.html Opera Glass] on opera.stanford.edu
3. [http://opera.stanford.edu/Mozart/Schauspieldirektor/libretto.html Libretto, in German (musical numbers only)] on opera.stanford.edu
4. Rushton. 1998
5. link. (14 June 2020 on santafeopera.org)
6. James Keller, [http://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/opera/songbirds-at-the-opera-the-impresario-and-le-rossignol/article_58852970-2716-524e-969b-7793e50393fe.html "Songbirds at the Opera: ''The Impresario'' and ''Le rossignol''], ''[[The Santa Fe New Mexican]]'', 18 July 2014
7. [https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8361512--mozart-der-schauspieldirektor-k486 Mozart: ''The Impresario''], Presto Classical
8. [https://www.bronxnet.org/your-bronx/articles/sunday-night-opera-bronx-opera-company-impresario/ "Sunday Night at the Opera with Bronx Opera Company: ''The Impresario''"], [[BronxNet]], 8 September 2021
9. Spouse of [[Gottlieb Stephanie]]
10. [http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/CLMOSCHA.HTM Recordings on operadis-opera-discography]

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