Il re pastore K. 208

Immediately after the Munich premiere of his opera La finta giardiniera on 13 January 1775, Mozart was commissioned by Archbishop Hieronymus Count Colloredo to write a new stage work on a libretto by Pietro Metastasio. In Il re pastore, he chose a subject that praised all the virtues of Habsburg policy and was especially suited to accompany the official visit to Salzburg of Archduke Maximilian. The opera was premiered at the Prince-Bishop's Salzburg residence on 23 April 1775, conducted by the composer. At once lively and full of feeling, Mozart's music and the unusually colorful orchestration of the arias turn this serenata into a feast for the senses. This vocal score is based on the Urtext from the New Mozart Edition. Serenata in two acts K. 208 (1775) Libretto: Pietro Metastasio (Italian) First performance: 23 April 1775, Salzburg, Fürsterzbischöfliche Residenz Edition: Pierluigi Petrobelli and Wolfgang Rehm (New Mozart Edition) German translation: Peter Brenner Place and time of action: Phoenician town of Sidon and surroundings, about 334 B.C. Characters: Alessandro, King of Macedonia – Tenor Aminta, herdsman, aficionado of Elisa – Soprano Elisa, a young and courtly Phoenician from Kadmus' tribe, aficionada of Aminta – Soprano Tamiri, daughter of Straton the tyrant, aficionada of Agenore – Soprano Agenore, courtly man of Sidon, friend of Alessandro, aficionado of Tamiri – Tenor Orchestra: 2,2(English horn)0,2 – 4,2,0,0 – Str – Bc Duration: approx. 2h