Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario)

To mark the arrival of a foreign dignitary in 1786, Emperor Joseph II called for a festival at the Orangery at the Schönbrunn Palace, featuring theatrical works by his German and Italian opera companies. The German entry was Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario), a play by Gottlieb Stephanie the Younger with music by Mozart. The Italian work, Prima la musica e poi le parole (First the music, then the words), was written by Antonio Salieri with a libretto by Giovanni Battista Casti. The two works were performed one after the other at opposite ends of the Orangery. While Stephanie’s play is not highly regarded today, Mozart’s accompanying music—written quickly over a two-­ week period despite a mild illness—has stood the test of time.