Prima la Musica/Der Schauspieldirektor

Opera at Home presents two short works commissioned 225 years ago by Holy Hapsburg Emperor Joseph 11 from rival composers to entertain his guests at a party at Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, and indulge his own love of competition by pitting Italian opera against German singspiel. This double bill displays a fascinating exercise in one-upmanship and self-parody. The competing composers take opera itself as the subject. Antonio Salieri's opera (full title 'Prima la musica e poi le parole' – 'First the Music, then the Words') lampoons opera production, while Mozart's 'Der Schauspieldirekor' ('The Impresario') has singers and actors auditioning. (The director is Jose Gandia; English translations by Simon Callow .)