Recordings

1. Apollo et Hyacinthus – Duet, “Natus cadit”
Martene Grimson (Melia), Allan Clayton (Oebalus)

2. La Finta Semplice – Aria, “Amoretti, che ascosi qui siete”
Rebecca Bottone (Rosina)

3. Bastien und Bastienne – Aria, “Diggi, daggi”
Matthew Rose (Colas)

4. Mitridate, Re di Ponto – Duet, “Se viver non degg’io” (original version)
Rebecca Bottone (Aspasia), Martene Grimson (Sifare)

5. Lucio Silla – Aria, “Fra i pensier più funesti”
Anna Leese (Giunia)

6. La Finta Giardiniera – Cavatina, “Geme la tortorella” Klara Ek (Sandrina)

7. Il Re Pastore – Finale, “Viva l’invitto Duce”
Cora Burggraaf (Aminta), Rebecca Bottone (Elisa), Anna Leese (Tamiri), Andrew Staples (Alessandro),
Allan Clayton (Agenore)

8. Zaide – Aria, “Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben”
Susan Gritton (Zaide)

9. Idomeneo – Quartet, “Andrò ramingo e solo”
Martene Grimson (Ilia), Anna Leese (Elettra), Cora Burggraaf (Idamante), Allan Clayton (Idomeneo)

10. Die Entführung aus dem Serail – Aria, “Kostanze… O wie ängstlich”
Andrew Staples (Belmonte)

11. Le Nozze di Figaro – Cavatina, “Se vuol ballare”
Matthew Rose (Figaro)

12. Don Giovanni – Canzonetta, “Deh vieni alla finestra”
Mark Stone (Don Giovanni)

13. Così fan tutte – Quintet, “Di scrivermi ogni giorno”
Anna Leese (Fiordiligi), Cora Burggraaf (Dorabella), Andrew Staples (Ferrando), Mark Stone (Guglielmo), Matthew Rose (Don Alfonso)

14. La Clemenza di Tito – Duet, “Ah perdona al primo affetto”
Rebecca Bottone (Servilia), Cora Burggraaf (Annio)

15. Die Zauberflöte – Quintet, “Hm! hm! hm! hm!”
Klara Ek, Martene Grimson, Jennifer Johnston (Drei Damen), Allan Clayton (Tamino), Mark Stone (Papageno)

This eagerly-awaited recording, devised and conducted by Ian Page, is based on the fact that Mozart’s first opera, Apollo et Hyacinthus (written when he was 11) begins with an 'A’ and his last, Die Zauberflöte,with a 'Z’. Taking this happy coincidence as its starting point, the disc presents a chronological tour through Mozart’s operatic canon,featuring a highlight from 15 of his operas.

The repertoire ranges from the exquisite duet “Natus cadit” from Apollo et Hyacinthus and a staggeringly virtuosic duet from Mitridate, re di Pontoto more famous highlights such as Don Giovanni’s Serenade and Figaro’s “Se vuol ballare”, and includes numerous unfamiliar treasures which deserve greater exposure. By presenting the works chronologically, the CD allows listeners to chart the progression from Mozart’s dazzlingly prodigious childhood to the unsurpassed masterpieces of his maturity, and the programme maintains a careful balance between the familiar and the unfamiliar, between the comic and the serious, and between solo arias and ensembles (including a quartet and three quintets).

A superb cast is headed by acclaimed British artists Susan Gritton, Mark Stone and Matthew Rose, and also features the company’s four inaugural Associate Artists – Rebecca Bottone, Martene Grimson, Anna Leese and Andrew Staples. Swedish soprano Klara Ek and Dutch mezzo Cora Burggraaf make welcome returns with the company, and the line-up is completed by two outstanding young English artists, mezzo Jennifer Johnston and tenor Allan Clayton. They are accompanied by the Classical Opera Company’s dynamic period-instrument orchestra, and several numbers featured on the disc will be receiving their first period-instrument recording.