Would you like to be among the first to hear music attributed to one of history’s greatest composers? Would you like to get a head start on preparing a role which is almost certain to make its way into audition requests within two seasons?
University of Northern Iowa musicologist David Buch was researching fairy-tale operas in Hamburg in 1996 when he came across a copy of Der Stein der Weisen (The Philosopher’s Stone), previously held in Russia and only recently returned to Germany. The new copy proved what had been suspected before–Mozart had written significant portions of the opera himself. The subsequent New York Times article on the discovery caught the attention of Boston Baroque founder and conductor Martin Pearlman. After a call to Buch, and some negotiating between the two men and the Telarc recording label, they acquired rights to the first performance and recording. This is a work that sheds new light on the final year of Mozart’s life, on the circle of composers who were his friends and colleagues.
New York Times music critic Edward Rothstein wrote in his front page article last June, “Minor Mozartiana have been discovered over the two centuries since the composers’ death, but they have often been juvenilia. These come from a composer at the height of his powers in one of the most important periods of his life.”
For this reason, Classical Singer is predicting that this work will make its way into standard repertoire; that major companies will be at this premiere and casting for future productions will begin shortly.
We recommend that singers find a way to hear and study this new work. Pearlman and the Boston Baroque will perform the 20th century world premiere in concert of Der Stein der Weisen in Boston on October 30 and November 1. Featured soloists include Kurt Streit, Jane Giering-de Haan, Paul Austin Kelly, and Judith Lovett.
For information about ticket availability, call 617/484-9200. We will let you know when the music scores become available.
