Search - Olaf Bär, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Paul Goodwin :: Mozart: Zaide

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 02/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"TEXT UNFINISHED BUT MUSIC UNDIMINISHED!



"Oh, Mozart, immortal Mozart, what countless images of a brighter and better world you have stamped upon our souls!" Thus spake Franz Schubert of Mozart.



"Zaide"-Mozart's unfinished work-a Singspiel in two Acts-original libretto by Johann Andreas Schachtner.

Mozart never completed 'Zaide', although some seventy minutes of beautiful music survive. Even more intriguingly, although we know that the musical selections were connected by spoken text rather than sung recitative, none of this spoken text survives-the surviving manuscript is a cue score that contains only the final couple of words of text before each selection. The surviving sung text, while giving us a clear impression of the story line, does not really tell us how the story ends.



Briefly the plot: The Sultan is enamored of Zaide. Among the former's Christian slaves is Gomatz, who after performing his daily arduous work, falls asleep in Zaide's garden; Zaide, upon seeing him, falls immediately in love with him, but she does not want to disturb is sleep, so she leaves her portrait beside him, and naturally when he awakens he also falls in love with her portrait. His friend Allazin procures oriental garb for both of them as a disguise. They manage to escape, but are caught and brought back to the Sultan, who is determined to put them to death. It is at this point that the story stops!!!!



Essentially, the story themes include those of tyranny, imprisonment and power, but the work also is about courage and the power of love and of hope for a better world,



No one really knows for certain why Mozart did not complete this opera, because he had ll more years of life to do so.The fact that it is not complete doesn't bother me in the least, beause, afer all it is the wonderful and glorious music of one of the world's greatest composers.



The soloists are of the best quality and their singing is truly excellent. I especially like Lynne Dawson's ability to sing very dramatically, and all with that clear and lovely soprano voice. Olaf Bar (baritone) always does a great job with anything he sings. The Academy of Ancient Music performed well under their very capable leader:Paul Goodwin. A most enjoyable listening treat!"

What Might Have Been?

A Minstrel in the Gallery | Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA | 12/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Perhaps the most tragic and ironic aspect of Mozart's incredible catalogue of compositions, is that some of his greatest and most admired works were never completed, such as the "Great" C minor Mass of 1783, and of course the Requiem. As I listened to this exciting recording of Zaide, I yearned to know how this opera fragment would have ended. Do Zaide and Gomatz die and be devoured by the wild beasts, or are they given their freedom? The story and music Mozart left us with are really tantalizing. The "Tiger" aria by Zaide is really most remarkable, performed brilliantly on this disc by Lynne Dawson. While there is nothing wrong in mourning the fact that Mozart never returned to finish this magical singspiel, we can certainly enjoy forever what he did bequeath to us. Don't hesitate to pick up this excellent recording of Mozart's most underappreciated and forgotten theatrical composition."

A Masterpiece

Marcolorenzo | Italy | 03/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A masterpiece of music and performance. Incomplete opera of Mozart at 24 years old, (lacks overture, and finale); written just before Idomeneo, full of sublime music magnificently performed on this recording. Lynne Dawson is stunning. Highly recommended."