Bastien und Bastienne
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Operas by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
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Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebotes (1767) |
Bastien und Bastienne (Bastien and Bastienne) is a one-act singspiel, comic opera, with libretto by Friedrich Wilhelm Weiskern and music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Bastien und Bastienne was one of Mozart's earliest operas, written in 1768 when he was only twelve years old. It was allegedly commissioned by Viennese physician and 'magnetist' Dr. Anton Mesmer (who himself would later be parodied in Cosi Fan Tutte) as a satire of the 'pastoral' genre then prevalent, and specifically as a parody of the opera Le Devin du Village by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. After its supposed premiere in Mesmer's garden theater (that is only corroborated by an unverified account of Nissen), it was not revived again until 1890.
Although he was very young, Mozart already had excellent vocal writing skills and a knack for parody and whimsy which would reach full flower in his later works. Bastien und Bastienne is however the easiest-to-perform of Mozart's juvenile works.
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[edit] Roles
[edit] Synopsis
Place: A pastoral village
Time: Indeterminate
Bastienne, a shepherdess, fears that her "dearest friend", Bastien, has forsaken her for another pretty face, and decides to go into the pasture to be comforted by her flock of lambs.
Before she can leave, however, she runs into Colas, the village soothsayer. Bastienne requests the help of his magical powers to help win back her Bastien. Colas (being a soothsayer) knows all about the problem, and comforts her with the knowledge that Bastien has not abandoned her, rather, he's merely been distracted lately by 'the lady of the manor'. His advice is to act coldly towards Bastien, which will make him come running back.
Bastien is heard approaching, so Bastienne hides herself. Bastien swaggers in, proclaiming how much he loves Bastienne. Colas informs him that Bastienne has a new lover. Bastien is shocked and asks the magician for help.
Colas opens his book of spells and recites a nonsense aria filled with random syllables and Latin quotations. Colas declares the spell a success and that Bastienne is in love with Bastien once more. Bastienne, however, decides to keep up the game a bit longer and spurns Bastien with great vehemence. Bastien threatens suicide, which Bastienne merely shrugs off.
Finally, the two decide that they've gone far enough and agree to reconcile. Colas joins them as they all sing a final trio in praise of the magician.
[edit] Recordings
- W.A. Mozart: Bastien und Bastienne, Philips, 422 527-2, 1991
- W.A. Mozart: Bastien und Bastienne, Sony, 45855, 1990
- W.A. Mozart: Bastien und Bastienne, Emi Classics, 5755562, 2005 (2 CDs)
- W.A. Mozart: Bastien und Bastienne, Orfeo, C705061B
- W.A. Mozart: Bastien und Bastienne, Nuova Era, NUO7344
