' (''Bastien and Bastienne''), K. 50 (revised in 1964 to K. 46b) is a one-act

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- ...

, a comic

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

, 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 ...

. ' 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.

Franz Mesmer Franz Anton Mesmer ( ; ; 23 May 1734 – 5 March 1815) was a German physician with an interest in astronomy. He theorized the existence of a process of natural Energy (esotericism), energy transference occurring between all animate and inanimat ...

(who himself would later be parodied in ''

Così fan tutte (''Women are like that, or The School for Lovers''), Köchel catalogue, K. 588, is an opera buffa in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was first performed on 26 January 1790 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria. The libretto was written ...

'') 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 Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Republic of Geneva, Genevan philosopher (''philosophes, philosophe''), writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment through ...

. The German

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 by Friedrich Wilhelm Weiskern,

Johann Heinrich Friedrich Müller Johann Heinrich Friedrich Müller (20 February 1738 – 8 August 1815) was a German actor, writer and Singspiel poet. Life Born in Aderstedt, Müller is said to have been called Schröder or Schroeter at first. After the early death of his fa ...

and

Johann Andreas Schachtner Johann Andreas Schachtner (9 March 1731 – 20 July 1795) was a German musician. He was court trumpeter in Salzburg, and friend there of the family of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; he was also a librettist for Mozart. Life Schachtner was born in Dingolf ...

, based on ' by Justine Favart and Harny de Guerville. 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. It is not clear whether this piece was performed in Mozart's lifetime. The first known performance was on 2 October 1890 at Architektenhaus in Berlin. The opera is written in both the French and German manners. Many of the melodies are French in manner, but Bastienne's first aria is a true German

lied In the Western classical music tradition, ( , ; , ; ) is a term for setting poetry to classical music. The term is used for any kind of song in contemporary German and Dutch, but among English and French speakers, is often used interchangea ...

. This melody is also used in Mozart's Trio in G for Piano, Violin and Violoncello, K. 564 (1788). Another purely German lied is Bastienne's aria "I feel certain of his heart". Mozart utilizes the orchestra sparingly, with the exception of the reconciliation scene. The opening theme of Mozart's overture resembles that of the first movement of Beethoven's Symphony no. 3, ''Eroica'' (in a different key). It is unlikely that Beethoven was familiar with Mozart's youthful opera. In any case, opening a movement with an arpeggio of the tonic chord was an extremely common occurrence in the Classical period. The resemblance is likely coincidental. 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. ' is possibly the easiest to perform of Mozart's juvenile works.

Roles

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 have gone far enough and agree to reconcile. Colas joins them as they all sing a final trio in praise of the magician.

Noted arias

* "Mein liebster Freund hat mich verlassen" – Bastienne * "Ich geh' jetzt auf die Weide" – Bastienne * "Befraget mich ein zartes Kind" – Colas * "Wenn mein Bastien einst im Scherze" – Bastienne * "Würd' ich auch, wie manche Buhlerinnen" – Bastienne * "Grossen Dank dir abzustatten" – Bastien * "Geh'! du sagst mir eine Fabel" – Bastien * "Diggi, daggi, shurry, murry" – Colas * "Meiner Liebsten schöne Wangen" – Bastien * "Er war mir sonst treu und ergeben" – Bastienne

Recordings

References

Notes

External links