The Operas of Mozart

Overview of the Operas of Mozart

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period, celebrated for his remarkable contribution to opera.
• Between 1767 and 1791, Mozart composed more than 20 operas, which encompassed all the major types of the era: opera seria, opera buffa, and Singspiel.

Key Features of Mozart’s Operas

• Mozart’s operas boast a remarkable fusion of dramatic content and musical expression. He integrated music and drama into a “total art-work”.
• His operas are renowned for the range and depth of their characterisation. With his expressive and versatile music, he revealed insides of his characters’ souls.
• A recurrent trait in Mozart’s operas is the use of recitative - a style of delivery that’s more spoken than sung - to propel the plot.

Some Noteworthy Operas by Mozart

• ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ (1786) is a comic opera that satirises the aristocracy and was adapted from a stage comedy banned in Vienna for its controversial portrayal of the nobility.
• ‘Don Giovanni’ (1787) is a unique blend of comic and serious opera and is considered one of the greatest operas of all time.
• ‘The Magic Flute’ (1791) is a Singspiel that explores profound themes of love, truth, and enlightenment.

Significance and Influence of Mozart’s Operas

• Mozart’s operas transformed the genre through his innovation in musical expression and dramatic content, setting the stage for later developments in operatic composition.
• His operas broke the conventions of the 18th-century opera by presenting intricate, multi-dimensional characters and sophisticated plots.
• Mozart’s works were influential on later composers, including Beethoven, Rossini, and Verdi, who admired and learned from his compositional techniques.

Styles and Techniques in Mozart’s Operas

• Mozart’s operas feature a perfect balance between symmetry and variety, reflecting the classical ideals of order and diversity.
• He introduced lively comic operas, or opera buffa, which highlighted graceful melodies, dynamic characterisation, and engaging comedy.
• Unlike many composers of the time, Mozart wrote the vocal parts in his operas to suit the strengths and weaknesses of specific singers.

Points to Remember

Remember Mozart’s innovative use of music for characterising and his contribution to different opera types. Note his ability to blend drama and music, and his influence on other composers. Understanding the context and significance of his operas such as ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, ‘Don Giovanni’, and ‘The Magic Flute’ is vital. Mozart’s operas symbolise the Classical era’s artistic ideals of balance, order, and expressive depth.