Mozart-Da Ponte Operas

Mozart''s collaborations with the librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte led to the composition of three of the great masterpieces of opera. This book designed to guide the reader to a deeper understanding and appreciation of these enigmatic works charts the musical cultural and social context in which they were written--the tastes and expectations of the contemporary opera audience Mozart''s intentions and aspirations in a period of rapid intellectual and political change Da Ponte''s views of opera and the practical logistics of opera production at the time. Together these strands provide illuminating insights into Mozart''s creative process and the functions of eighteenth-century opera.