The Seven Great Operas in Facsimile Editions of Mozart’s Autograph Scores
“Idomeneo”, “Die Entführung aus dem Serail”, “Le nozze di Figaro”, “Don Giovanni”, “ Così fan tutte ”, “Die Zauberflöte ”, “La clemenza di Tito” – Mozart’s seven great operas, his brilliant contribution to music theatre and world culture, are unequalled in their depth of human characterisation and musical expression.
Through happy coincidence, all seven opera scores have survived almost complete in Mozart’s manuscript. The Packard Humanities Institute (PHI, Los Altos, California ) has now embarked on producing a facsimile edition of the seven autograph scores. Mozart scholars, libraries and of course all lovers of Mozart’s stage works now have the opportunity of acquiring these priceless manuscripts in flawless reproductions. At the same time, all risks about preserving Mozart’s legacy for the world of music are taken care of.
The Packard Humanities Institute (PHI) charitable foundation, known for its philanthropic programmes in the arts and sciences, has forged an ideal cooperation for the Mozart project. Under the scholarly direction of an editorial board (Ulrich Konrad, David Packard, Wolfgang Rehm, Christoph Wolff; General editor Dietrich Berke) the International Mozarteum Foundation Salzburg and the libraries where Mozart’s manuscripts are held are working together with the Packard Humanities Institute.
The production of the volumes is exquisite, for the digitalization of the manuscripts has been undertaken using the latest technology, which allows for an astounding level of authenticity and precision in detail. The printing follows the uncompromisingly high standards demanded by the edition. All seven volumes include essays on the history of literature and ideas by Hendrik Birus, Hans Joachim Kreutzer and Robert Miller as well as musicological introductions by leading Mozart scholars in German and English. The facsimile edition will be distributed by Bärenreiter- Verlag .
- consolidation of Mozart manuscripts held in different places
- highest level of precision in reproduction and authenticity of colour through use of the latest technology
- unique offer thanks to project sponsorship by the Packard Humanities Institute (Los Altos, California)
Precision in reproduction thanks to cutting edge technology
In preparing the manuscripts for reproduction, equipment was used in line with the highest technical standards currently available. Mozart’s original manuscripts of the seven operas are held by several libraries. For five of the operas, the different acts have even ended up in different libraries following World War II. Thus, the autograph of Act I of “ Così fan tutte ” is in the Jagiellonian Library in Kraków and the second act in the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz . In order to achieve a uniformly high level of precision in reproduction and authenticity of colour both within a work and for all seven editions, the use of the same technical equipment in all the different places was a prerequisite. Specialist from the Salzburg firm ‘ Kirchberger Photography’ were employed, were provided with the latest equipment by the Packard Humanities Institute and also given special additional training in the modern technology by specialists in the USA. Proofs of each edition were compared with the original in each location and improved until the likeness could not be bettered in all details. Mozart’s music and text notation is reproduced extremely clearly, and even those places where Mozart corrected or had rubbed out marks he had already made, appear in these editions in a previously unmatched transparency.
“I regard it as a true privilege to be able to read and study Mozart’s scores in his manuscript hand, as I did when I was working intensively on “ Idomeneo ” . The commanding clarity and the characteristic appearance of Mozart’s handwriting are unique. A harmonious order of thinking appears there, intertwined with an inner liveliness and dynamic which instinctively brings his music to life. I find it a wonderful experience to sense the music in the visual imagination and to make it ‘tangible’ in the truest sense of the word. This is made possible by an astoundingly good facsimile such as that of “ Idomeneo ” . In this lies not only a wealth of experience, but especially also a great wealth of insight. We can only be thankful and happy about this.”
(Kent Nagano)
„What an extraordinary occasion: the publication of all seven of the great Mozart operas in autograph-facsimile editions of the highest quality, and at a reasonable price that can make the whole series accessible to all Mozart lovers - professionals, students, libraries, performing organizations, audiences - indeed, everyone!“
(James Levine)
„I am overjoyed that this important facsimile edition of the Mozart operas could finally be realized. A tremendous dream of musicians has come true !“
(Nikolaus Harnoncourt)
„All lovers of Mozart have reason to rejoice at the forthcoming appearance of ‘Mozart Operas in Facsimile’ - in beautifully produced multi-volume bibliophile editions available at an astonishingly low price ... thanks to the Packard Humanities Institute.”
(John Eliot Gardiner)
- ISBN: 9783761818817 (3761818815)
