Happy Birthday, Mozart

Sometimes the best way to celebrate a 254th birthday is to grab a bunch of trombones and hail Neptune.


Idomeneo, Act III, Scene 10
La Voce

Ha vinto Amore Idomeneo cessi esser re lo sia Idamante ed Ilia a lui sia sposa, e fia pago Nettuno, Contento il ciel, premiata l'innocenza.

Love has triumphed Idomeneo shall cease to reign; Idamante shall be king, and Ilia his bride Then will Neptune be appeased, heaven contended and innocence rewarded.

As great as that moment is, it's fascinating to see how Wolfgang's father micromanaged it:

"I assume that you will choose very deep wind instruments to accompany the subterranean voice. How would it be if after the slight subterranean rumble the instruments sustained, or rather began to sustain, their notes piano and then made a crescendo such as might almost inspire terror, while after this and during the decrescendo the voice would begin to sing?"

(Thanks, dad)

In case you're planning on getting down at your Mozart bashes, here's a little dance music from the same opera:

Chaconne (KV 367)

Allegro
Larghetto
Allegro
Largo-Allegreto-Più allegro