<p align="center">Le Nozze Di Figaro</p>
<p align="center">Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart</p>
<p align="center">1786</p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<strong><span style="font-size: large">Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro received it’s world premier in Vienna, Austria, on May first, 1786. Mozart would compose four operas that are among the most important and popular in classical music. Le Nozze di Figaro was the first piece during Mozart’s most productive and successful span of his life which is why it should be preserved for future generations<span style="font-size: large">. </span></span></strong><span style="font-size: large">Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ( Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus), was born in a small town in Austria by the name of Salzburg on January 27, 1756. Raised by his successful composer father Leopold, things were quite strict in their household, but music was always an important part of their life. By the age of three, Mozart had already begun playing the harpsichord ( musical instrument much like an organ or a piano). His musical genius was so prevalent that in 1762, at the ripe age of six, his father took him and his older sister on a concert tour beginning in Munich and Vienna and continuing through Paris and London from 1763-1766.</span>

Young Mozart was so impressive in his musical talents that he was considered a “wonder child” in every city he played. His astounding piano playing and improvisations left wondering ears in awe. Mozart was also considered to have a photographic memory and could play an entire piece of music after listening to it only once.(www.imbd.com/nm0003665/bio). In 1769, at age thirteen he became the concertmaster of the Archbishop and was knighted by the Pope in Rome. For twelve years he remained there until a heated argument with the Archbishop forced him to quit and move to Vienna in 1781.

In the early 1780’s, the city of Vienna began to embrace the movement of enlightenment. Joseph II reformed censorship which allowed the Viennese people to have access to all the great works of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. For the next decade, the city took advantage of their “freedom” and created a wave of inspired writers, publishing houses and reading rooms.( Pursuing Enlightenment in Vienna, 1781-1790 by Heather Morrison Aug. 2005 ). Due to the king’s lack of support, the movement came to a halt. But for Mozart, the timing of his arrival could not have been better to let his musical creativity shine, composing thirty symphonies by the time he was eighteen.

By 1786, Mozart was considered one of, if not the most experienced and accomplished thirty year old musician in the world. Although he had composed four popular operas, his success did not began until the release of his four act opera buffa (comic opera), <em>Le Nozze di Figaro</em>. The piece was a collaboration with an Italian by the name of Lorenzo Da Ponte and inspired by a 1784 stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais called <em>La Folle Journee, ou le Mariage de Figaro</em>. The opera made it’s debut in Vienna on May 1, 1786, but almost did not make the stage. The opera was banned due to it’s “recklessness” but Da Ponte managed to get approval for an operatic version which eventually achieved an abundant amount of success.

There were five encores during the premiere performance of <em>Figaro </em>on this day in 1786, and seven during it’s second performance one week later, prompting the emperor himself to impose a ban on encores during future performances, in order "to prevent the excessive duration of operas, without however prejudicing the fame often sought by opera singers from the repetition of vocal pieces." Basically, this piece was so awesome and that well received that the emperor had to put a stop to all future acts that desired to attempt encores! The combination of da Ponte's libretto and Mozart's score made <em>Le Nozze di Figaro</em> an instant success and led to two further triumphant collaborations on <em>Don Giovanni </em>and<em> Cosî fan tutte.</em>

During the year of 1786, it seemed that the dramatic operas the community were accustomed to, had begun to be replaced by more uplifting and triumphant pieces of music. Pieces like Joseph Haydn’s <em>Symphony no. 82 in C </em>(also known as “The Bear”) were among those. If you were to listen to both Haydn’s Symphony and Mozart’s Le Nozze, the similarities between the two definitely stand out. Much like <em>Le Nozze di Figaro</em>, The Bear Symphony is composed of the same instrumental sections (two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns etc.). Each musical composition includes a strong sound in their horn section along with fluctuating melodies and a “happy feeling” in their string section. Although one can make out the great similarities between the two pieces, it is Mozart who’s music captures the heart of the people.

Mozart’s musical relationship with the public was so powerful that even before the release of <em>Le Nozze di Figaro</em>, his operas were causing great competitions with other artists of his time. One in particular is that of Antonio Salieri’s <em>Prima la Musica e Poi le Parole. </em>On February 7, 1786, Salieri’s triumphant musical creation was commissioned by the Emperor Joseph II to perform at a festival in Vienna. While his opera was performed on one end of the stage, Mozart’s musical comedy <em>Der Schauspieldirektor </em>was being held at the other end. Due to Mozart’s growing popularity, it is safe to say that Salieri was not pleased as Mozart was praised. That began an on going musical battle between the two composers and their librettists.

Personally, I can understand the demand for Mozart’s music back then. It seems that he came around at a time when people wanted to laugh and be merry and be entertained by comedy instead of tragedy. When I hear the overture of <em>Le Nozze di Figaro</em>, it gives me a sense of warmth and enlightenment. I love the way the piece crescendos in the beginning and takes you on a journey through the flutes and clarinets. I imagine a lot of comedic chaos, like if this were the music to a silent film, there would be overly dramatic hands and arms and things being out of place and unruly.

I am not one to listen to classical music nor am I one to go to an opera. Just last year, I went to my first ballet…<em>The Nutcracker </em>(composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1892). I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the experience. The dancers made the music come alive for me and I actually felt myself slip into somewhat of a trance during the dance of the Snow Queen. The music itself just reminded me of Christmas time. I never knew that all those holiday commercials were inspired by the music in <em>The Nutcracker</em>.

Like <em>The Nutcracker</em>, Mozart’s <em>Le Nozze di Figaro </em>has done more than stand the test of time. It has influenced even our current generation in ways that I honestly would not have noticed if I did not do this assignment. Much of his music is featured as a musical score in many films but this particular piece is also in television shows, commercials and I even found a video game that uses <em>Le Nozze di Figaro </em>as a score as well. It is currently being featured as the music to motivate America to lose weight and eat healthier in a Subway ad. You can also hear this piece in cartoons such as <em>Bugs Bunny </em>and <em>Ren and Stimpy</em>, movies like the <em>Shawshank Redemption </em>and <em>Zombieland</em>, to television shows like <em>Seinfeld.</em>

Mozart is probably the only composer in history to have written undisputed masterworks in virtually every musical genre of his age. Of Mozart’s operas, <em>Le Nozze di Figaro</em>, is the earliest opera still found in the repertoire of virtually all of today’s opera houses.( <a href="http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/clas/mozart.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #0000ff">http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/clas/mozart.html</span></span></span></a>). It could be said that today’s society appreciates and accepts the piece just as well as they did when it debuted back in 1786. <em>Le Nozze di Figaro </em>is even being showcased at the Austin Lyric Opera this year proving its capability to stand the test of time. It is a remarkable piece that is always recognized when heard by anyone, whether they are a classical music lover or not and should be kept in the hearts for generations to come.

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