In Italian with Hungarian subtitles

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Ascanio in Alba /Szabolcs Molnár/

The young Mozart’s three journeys in Italy are marked with numerous musical pieces including an opera composed for Milan on each of his journeys. He created his opera seria Mitridate, re di Ponto (1770) during his first journey. The fourteen-year-old composer’s piece confirmed clearly that he had no rivals in this art any more. Hardly a year later we find him in Milan again where his Ascanio in Alba was a greater success than star composer Hasse’s new opera which was premièred at the same time.

“This boy will consign us all to oblivion” – Hasse complained. And Leopold wrote home maliciously: “I’m sorry, Wolfgang’s Serenata has so crushed Hasse’s opera that I can’t describe it.” The third piece, Lucio Silla, a traditional opera seria again, was premièred in the carnival season of 1773.

These three compositions by Mozart, similarly to his staged musical pieces composed before Idomeneo, have been waiting for rediscovery for many years.

The opera was ordered for the wedding of Maria Theresa’s son Archduke Ferdinand and Princess Beatrice Ricciarda. Giuseppe Parini wrote the libretto. One of the attractions of the splendid series of festivals (horserace, masked ball, theatre performance) was the wedding of 150 engaged couples coming from poor families – their dowry being provided by the royal family –, and the other one was the young Salzburg composer’s opera abundant with superb arias and choruses.
Ascanio (that is Archduke Ferdinand) – according to the libretto son of Goddess Venus (Maria Theresa) and Aeneas who fled from Troy – occupies the region of Latium by the grace of the gods. A nymph of divine origins, Silvia (Beatrice Ricciarda) is chosen to be his wife.

The two young ones do not know each other, and Ascanio cannot reveal his identity and noble birth at their first encounter so as to learn the girl’s real emotions. Ascanio has already seen Silvia in a dream sent to him by Amor, and fell in love with her immediately. When a group of shepherds arrive to offer a sacrifice to Venus, they push Ascanio aside, believing he is a poor foreigner. Silvia is preparing to attend the ceremony too. The priest of Venus (Aceste) tells her the good news that she is to marry the noble Ascanio soon.

Silvia, who, although without knowing him, respects Ascanio, does not welcome the news as her heart already belongs to the young man she has seen in her dreams on so many occasions.

When Silvia meets an unknown young man (that is, Ascanio) – who is exactly like the young man in her dreams – she would love to reveal her emotions, but she knows that her hand has been promised to someone else; and Ascanio cannot uncover his identity. They are about to leave sadly when Venus arrives in spectacular fashion so as to introduce the two young ones to each other. The embrace happily and occupy the new capital of the empire which has been built for them – Alba.

Directors: Magdolna Parditka, Alexandra Szemerédy Set and Costume Designers: Magdolna Parditka, Alexandra Szemerédy
Conductor: Ádám Fischer

Venere Eszter Wierdl
Ascanio Atala Schöck
Silvia Gabriella Fodor
Aceste Zoltán Megyesi
Fauno Rita Rácz

Premiere: 12 December 2010
Further dates: 14 December 2010"

Source: Opera.hu