Prague ‘Titus’ at the Estates Theatre

I saw ‘Titus’ at the Estates Theatre this evening. This is the theatre where it was first performed. Another amazing set with an exagerated perspective tube, stage size at the front, ending about the size of a person with an opening like an camera lens adjustment at the back. Very stylish performance in modern dress.

A little difficulty with the castrati colatura passages but who cares? It was great!! The clarinet playing in the two arias with wonderful obligati sounded absolutely right in this acoustic. Even the low chalameau sections on the basset keys came out clearly and the wound ligature gives a feeling of the eighteenth century clarinet even though the clarinetist was using a modern instrument. Listening to these great clarinet obligati made me realise that the only person who could have played these must have been Anton Stadler. These two obligati almost comprise a small concerto! My internet researches ( never sure about anything I get from the internet but this is the only research tool I have to hand at the moment!) confirm my suspicions that Anton Stadler did play these obligati at the first performance.

Not long after this, Mozart wrote the basset clarinet concerto for him. The time between when Mozart received the contract to write the opera and its first performance was less than two months!! The recitativo secco sections were probably written by Sussmayr but Mozart did the recitativo accompagnato music.

Less than three months later, Mozart died after having completed ‘The Magic Flute”, “The Clarinet Concerto” and other music. To be in that beautiful old theatre where it all took place is a rare delight!!!
Zurich 2006 Parto Parto Ma tu ben mio (bassett clarinet obl)

Diana Damrau – Non più di fiori (basset clarinet obl)

Parto, Parto ROH 2002 (clarinet obligato!)

Jonas Kaufmann (2005) – “Se all’impero”

La Clemenza di Tito – Paris 2005

La clemenza di Tito Salzburg(separate) – Deh, per questo istante solo

Malena Ernman sings ‘Tu fosti tradito’

Glyndebourne 1991 Susan McCulloch – Vitellia – Deh se piacer

Drottningholm: Torna di Tito a lato

Drottningholm Court Theatre: Finale

Zurich – Deh, per questo istante solo

Act I Final-Quintet and Chorus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DALdK5I5-DY
duetto “Ah perdona ” Annio Servilia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcioNBbVJs
Del più sublime soglio (Rec. & Aria)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G32buVYqTe8
Finale-Sextet and Chorus 1980
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3ei4WcP_uc
Plays through
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7jgqAeFlcc&feature=PlayList&p=D01CE6F949A2EE8F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6
Come ti piace imponi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wpjg7qcNwE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipdTxQG9CaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi837XQozC0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40B9EV-WFfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzIifhtGLDA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-I-9CJUxjc
Malena Ernman sings ‘Tu fosti tradito’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22bSgWbzUAM
Ah grazie si rendano (Heppner) 1992.wmv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPb2Y1ROu-s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl1LfdJpGc8
Marcia – Chorus – Recitative – Chorus- Marcia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sphqORAaz6k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx1Esy_jE_A
Trio “Se al volto mai ti senti”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUtHT_ZU18M
W.A.Mozart – La Clemenza di Tito – 13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdhNzR1BPmc
W.A.Mozart – La Clemenza di Tito – 14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-ydhbwFgFk&feature=related
W.A.Mozart – La Clemenza di Tito – 15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxFG1tDZnLI&feature=related
W.A.Mozart – La Clemenza di Tito – 16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQxGy2sQjg8&feature=related
Parto, Parto ROH 2002
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTMZXZihdWg