Woodfield, Ian - Cabals and Satires

Cabals and Satires: Mozart's Comic Operas in Vienna is a study of the political context in which Mozart wrote his three most famous Italian comedies, Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi fan tutte. Joseph II's decision to place his opera buffa troupe in competition with the Singspiel provoked a struggle between the rival national genres, both supported by vociferous cabals. Mozart's deft navigation of the turbulent political waters of this period and the ensuing Austro-Turkish War left him well placed to benefit from the revival of the commercial stage in Vienna--the most enduring musical consequence of the lean war years.

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CONTENTS

List of Figures
List of Tables
Abbreviations
Introduction
Sources
1 Inter-troupe rivalries: the reception of Figaro
2 Dynastic alliances: the genesis of Don Giovanni
3 Operatic satire: Dittersdorf's Figaro
4 In time of war: the Vienna Don Giovanni
5 Italian opera reprieved: L'ape musicale
6 Da Ponte as impresario: the revival of Figaro
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index