Mozart: Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots

The first release in a new partnership between Classical Opera and Signum Records begins with Mozart’s remarkable sacred singspiel Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots, composed when he was just eleven. The music is full of tender beauty, dynamism and descriptive flair, and the young composer’s innate sense of understanding and sympathy for the human condition already shines through.

The story follows the efforts of The Spirit of Christianity (Andrew Kennedy)—aided by Divine Justice (Cora Burggraaf ) and Divine Mercy (Sarah Fox)—to win back the heart of a Lapsed Christian (Allan Clayton) as he lies fast asleep. In opposition to this however stands The Spirit of Worldliness (Sophie Bevan), who urges the Christian to forget what The Spirit shows him and to follow her pleasure-seeking philosophies. As Justice and Mercy withdraw to observe, The Spirit of Christianity seeks to win back the lapsed Christian, but will this lost soul be able to resist the temptations of indulgence and short-term satisfaction that Worldliness offers?

SIGCD343 84 minutes 29 seconds (2 discs)

'Page and the Orchestra of Classical Opera have an unerring knack for making the most out of the young Mozart's characterful music … tenors Andrew Kennedy and Allan Clayton sing with an ideal syn ...
'The piece is performance to a high standard, with tenors Andrew Kennedy and Allan Clayton making the most of the Spirit of Christianity and the Half-Hearten Christian respectively. Soprano Sophie Bev ...
'The relatively small orchestra, clear textures and buoyant pacing convinces the listener that this is no dull oratorio but a genuinely dramatic work … the whole cast are admirable … all sin ...