' (complete title in historical spelling: '; The Obligation of the First and Foremost Commandment), K. 35, is a sacred musical play (''geistliches

Singspiel A Singspiel (; plural: ; ) is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera. It is characterized by spoken dialogue, which is alternated with ensembles, songs, ballads, and arias which were often strophic, or folk- ...

'') composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

in 1767 when he was 11 years old. It is Mozart's first opera or, more specifically, ''sacred drama'', as is suggested by the name. The

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

is now attributed to , although Johann Adam Wieland or Jakob Anton Marianus Wimmer had been suggested earlier. (The title page of the libretto ascribes it only to "J.A.W.".)OperaGlass summary at stanford.edu
accessed on October 6, 2007 Only the first part of the opera was composed by Mozart; the second and third parts were contributed by

Michael Haydn Johann Michael Haydn (; 14 September 1737 – 10 August 1806) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period, the younger brother of Joseph Haydn. Life Michael Haydn was born in 1737 in the Austrian village of Rohra ...

and

Anton Cajetan Adlgasser Anton Cajetan Adlgasser (sometimes Anton Cajetan Adelgasser; 1 October 1729 – 23 December 1777) was a German organist and composer at Salzburg Cathedral. He composed a good deal of liturgical music that included eight masses and two requiems, as ...

respectively. However, these other two parts have not survived. Part 1 of the opera was first performed on March 12, 1767, in the Knight's Hall of the Palace of the Archbishop, the

Salzburg Residenz The Salzburg Residenz, also known as the Alte Residenz or Old Residence, is a palace located at Domplatz and ''Residenzplatz'' in the historic centre (''Altstadt Salzburg, Altstadt'') of Salzburg, Austria. First mentioned about 1120, for centuries ...

. Part 2 was performed on March 19, and part 3 on March 26.

Background and performance history

Mozart composed the work at age 11 with the help of his two teachers,

and

. In Salzburg, dividing up a sacred singspiel between other composers was common. The libretto was written by Ignatz Anton von Weiser even though it was said that Johann Adam Wieland suggested the idea first and his name is written on the libretto. Mozart composed only the first part of the opera, and the others composed "part two" and "part three." However, these other two parts have not survived.WienMozart2006 page on ''Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots''
, accessed on October 6, 2007 The performances were predominantly in Salzburg in St. Peter's, in Cathedrals, on the Nonnberg, and in Residenz. The opera includes many

recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name recitativo () is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repeat lines ...

s for all of the characters, and each character sings one to three arias. The characters of the opera are two tenors: Christgeist and Christ (a Christian), and three sopranos: Barmherzigkeit, Gerechtigkeit, and Weltgeist. The opera does not have a chorus. Part I of the opera was first performed on 12 March 1767 in the Knight's Hall of the Palace of the Archbishop,

Salzburg Salzburg is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020 its population was 156,852. The city lies on the Salzach, Salzach River, near the border with Germany and at the foot of the Austrian Alps, Alps moun ...

. Part II was performed on 19 March, and Part III on 26 March.OperaGlass summary at stanford.edu
accessed on October 6, 2007

Roles

Musical numbers

* 01. Sinfonia Allegro * 02. Recitativo: Die löblich' und gerechte Bitte * 03. No. 1 Aria: Mit Jammer muß ich schauen * 04. Recitativo: So viele Seelen Fall * 05. No. 2 Aria: Ein ergrimmter Löwe brüllet * 06. Recitativo: Was glaubst du? * 07. No. 3 Aria: Erwache, fauler Knecht * 08. Recitativo: Er reget sich * 09. Recitativo: Wie, wer erwecket mich? * 10. No. 4 Aria: Hat der Schöpfer dieses Leben * 11. Recitativo: Daß Träume Träume sind * 12. No. 5 Aria: Jener Donnerworte Kraft * 13. Recitativo: Ist dieses, o so zweifle nimmermehr * 14. No. 6 Aria: Schildre einen Philosophen * 15. Recitativo: Wen hör' ich nun hier in der Nähe * 16. No. 7 Aria: Manches Übel * 17. Recitativo: Er halt mich einem Kranken gleich * 19. Recitativo: Hast du nunmehr erfahren * 20. No. 8 Terzetto: Laßt mir eurer Gnade Schein

Recordings

References

External links