Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario), K. 486, is a comic Singspiel written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie, an Austrian Schauspieldirektor.

Mozart wrote the opera as his entry in a musical competition sponsored on February 7 1786 by Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. The competition was to pit a German singspiel against an Italian opera. The competing Italian entry was the opera buffa Prima la musica, poi le parole (First the Music, then the Words), by Antonio Salieri.

It has been noted that the character and scale of the overture are similar to those of the overture to Le nozze di Figaro, which was written at the same time and premiered later the same year.

There are only four vocal numbers in the score, and the musical content (about 30 minutes, including the overture) is surrounded by much spoken dialogue, topical in its day. In modern times, the text is usually completely rewritten.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, February 7 1786 (Conductor: — )
Frank, an impresario	spoken role	Johann Gottlieb Stephanie Jr.
Eiler, a banker	spoken role	Johann Franz Hieronymus Brockmann
Buff, a buffo singer	bass	Joseph Weidmann
Monsieur Vogelsang, a singer	tenor	Valentin Adamberger
Madame Herz, a singer	soprano	Aloysia Weber
Mademoiselle Silberklang, a singer	soprano	Catarina 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

Der Schauspieldirektor concerns the woes of an impresario, Frank, who must put together a company of actors and singers while dealing with their whims, rivalries and pretensions. The company faces economic difficulties which are ultimately solved thanks to the intervention of Eiler, a banker, who is pursauded to intervene by Frank pretending to engage his lover, Madams Pfeil. The musical passages of the opera occur when Frank begins the auditions of the singers. Madams Herz sings an air ranging from an initially pathetic and sentimental character to a bright conclusion, rich in virtuosities. The following air tests Mlle Silberklang. In the trio "Ich bin die erste Sängerin!" the two ambitious singers confront him on who the prima donna will be, while Monsieur Vogelsang attempts to reconcile matters. In the end, the singers and actors determine that art can thrive only through the peaceable cooperation of all their strengths.

Noted arias

• "Bester Jüngling" — Madame Silberklang
• "Da schlägt des Abschieds Stunde" — Madame Herz

See also

• List of Mozart's operas

References

• Holden, Amanda; (editor), with Kenyon, Nicholas and Walsh, Stephen The Viking Opera Guide. London: Viking. ISBN 0-670-81292-7.

External links

• Synopsis from Stanford University
• Libretto