Winds Unlimited - Harmoniemusik from Mozart's Favourite Operas (2016) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

In the eighteenth century it was common practice to hear excerpts from the public’s favourite operas and ballets, their most loved arias performed in transcriptions usually for wind sextet, or sometimes a wind octet, both occassionally with an additional bass instrument. This Harmoniemusik was all the rage in the last quarter of the eighteenth century, most intensely from 1780s - 1820s, particularly in Vienna but also in Prague and Budapest. Mozart himself, in a letter to his father, mentioned hearing such a group playing on the street from his window and expressed his joy at hearing his own music in this smaller ensemble setting.

This CD features Harmoniemusik of some of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most loved arias from his operas 'La Clemenza di Tito', 'Don Giovanni' and 'Le nozze di Figaro'. The transcriptions were made by Georg Kaspar Sartorius (1754-1809). Needless to say, these particular transcriptions have their own texture and flavour that is apart from the original. What they offer still, are a representation of the bright, varied, virtuosic, melodious and grand music found in these operas reflected through the seductive timbres of clarinets, horns and bassoons, grounded and infused by the warmth of a contra-bass. And still imbued with all the essential brilliance of the original Mozart works. The natural vocal qualities of wind instruments in this grouping lend themselves perfectly to the emotionally charged and human voice Mozart was portraying.

Not a lot is know about Georg Kaspar Satorius. He was one of the many composers activily consumed by the writing of transcriptions, and was in the employ of the court of Ludwig X until around 1809. He made many transcriptions for his employer including others by Mozart ('Cosi fan tutte', and 'Die Zauberflote'), Franz Xaver Sussmayr, Peter von Winter and Niccolo Puccinni.

Tracklist:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91)

01. Le Nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Sinfonia
02. Le Nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Cinque, diece, venti
03. Le Nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Se a caso madama
04. Le Nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Se vuol ballare signor Contino
05. Le Nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Non piu andrai
06. Le Nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Susanna or via sortite
07. La Clemenza di Tito, K 621: Come ti piace imponi
08. La Clemenza di Tito, K 621: Del piu sublime soglio
09. La Clemenza di Tito, K 621: Deh se piacer mi vuoi
10. La Clemenza di Tito, KV 621: Totna di Tito a lato
11. La Clemenza di Tito, KV 621: Ah grazie si rendano
12. La Clemenza di Tito, KV 621: Tu fosti tradito
13. Don Giovanni, K. 527: Ah chi mi dice mai
14. Don Giovanni, K. 527: Giovinette che fate all'amore
15. Don Giovanni, K. 527: Ho capito, signor, si
16. Don Giovanni, K. 527: La ci darem la mano
17. Don Giovanni, K. 527: Eh via buffone
18. Don Giovanni, K. 527: Vedrai carino