Mozart's Thematic Catalogue - ff. 22v-23r
Copyright © The British Library Board
17 September to December 1789
In the course of his career Mozart wrote nearly fifty arias. Some were written
for inclusion in other composers' operas, three of which appear on this page.
Others were solo numbers for his own operas, such as the last entry on this
page. This aria was written for his new comic opera Così fan tutte
("All women behave like that"), which was premiered in January of
the following year. Mozart also wrote arias to be performed by professionals
in concerts, as well as some for amateur singers. He often composed arias with
the abilities of particular singers in mind. He once said that he was able to
fit an aria to a singer like well-made suit of clothes. In December Mozart invited
Joseph Haydn and his fellow mason Michael Puchberg to a private rehearsal of
his Così fan tutte.
17 September 1789
K580. This aria, Schon lachte der holde Frühling, was written
for a German-language production of the opera Il barbiere di Siviglia
by Paisiello. The singer was Mozart's sister-in-law, Josepha Hofer, who was
later to be the first to play the role of the Queen of the Night in the opera
Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute).
29 September 1789
K581. This quintet in A for clarinet and string quartet was one of Mozart's
last pieces of chamber music, and was written for his friend the clarinettist
Anton Stadler. Modern performing editions are based on the printed edition of
1802, as Mozart's original manuscript was pawned or sold by Stadler and
subsequently lost.
In October 1789
K582. Mozart wrote this aria, Chi sa chi sa qual sia, for Vincente
Martin Y Soler's opera Il burbero di buon cuore, to be sung by Louise
Villeneuve, a soprano at the Burgtheater in Vienna.
In October 1789
K583. This aria, Vado, ma dove? - oh Dei!, was also written for Vincente
Martin Y Soler's opera Il burbero di buon cuore, again to be sung by
Louise Villeneuve.
In December 1789
K584. Mozart wrote this aria for bass, Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo,
for the part of Guglielmo in his opera Così fan tutte. The part
was played by Francesco Benucci, who played bass comic roles at the Burgtheater
in Vienna. He created the role of Figaro in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro.
In the end this aria was not included in the opera.
Musical extracts recorded at the Royal College of Music, London
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