Mozart's motet Exsultate Jubilate, performed on original instruments by the award winning Early Music ensemble Voices of Music. Nola Richardson, soprano. The complete is work presented here for the first time in 8K video on period instruments.
Reconstruction of the recitative: directors Hanneke van Proosdij and David Tayler reconstructed the _recitativo accompagnato_ string parts from Mozart's continuo part, and this receives its world premiere here.
Months after completing the Divertimento in D Major, Leopold and Wolfgang Mozart left for their third tour of Italy, with a first stop in Milan. There they met the soprano castrato, composer, and harpsichordist Venanzio Rauzzini, who was cast as one of the leads in Wolfgang Mozart’s new opera Lucio Silla opposite the prima donna Anna Lucia de Amicis. Clearly, Mozart was impressed by Rauzzini’s talent, because he composed this motet a month later to showcase the singer’s abilities. Its premiere took place in a Milan church on January 17, 1773. While the work has a religious text, it could be understood as a concerto for soprano voice: its fast-slow-fast structure certainly echoes that of an instrumental concerto, with the addition of a recitative between the first and second sections. Dazzling runs and flourishes in the outer sections to exhortations of “Rejoice, oh blessed souls!” and “Alleluia!” bookend a lovely, lilting heart, in which a prayer for peace and relief from grief is cast in gentle shade (Sophie Benn).
Soprano Nola Richardson makes her Voices of Music debut as an “especially impressive” soprano (The New York Times), Australian-American Nola Richardson’s repertory ranges from medieval to contemporary works, including several world premieres. She has been particularly noted for her performances of Bach, Handel and Mozart and has won First Prize in all three major American competitions focused on the music of J.S. Bach. Recent seasons have featured her debuts with the Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Colorado, Helena, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and Seattle Symphonies as well as with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, American Classical Orchestra, Musica Angelica, and with Musica Sacra in her acclaimed Carnegie Hall solo debut.
Ms. Richardson is represented by Schwalbe & Partners https://schwalbeandpartners.com/nola-richardson-soprano
Text and translation
I. Exsultate, jubilate,
O vos animae beatae,
Dulcia cantica canendo,
Cantui vestro respondendo,
Psallant aethera cum me.
II. Recit: Fulget amica dies,
Jam fugere et nubila et procellae;
Exorta est
Inexspectata quies.
Undique obscura regnabat nox,
Surgite tandem laeti
Qui timuistis adhuc,
Et jucundi aurorae fortunatae
Frondes dextera plena et lilia date.
III. Aria: Tu virginum corona,
Tu nobis pacem dona,
Tu consolare affectus,
Unde suspirat cor.
IV. Alleluia.
Rejoice, rejoice
O you blessed souls,
Sing sweet songs,
And in response to your singing
Let the heavens sing with me.
The day shines as our friend
The clouds and storms have fled away
Revealing
An unexpected calm.
Dark night has ruled everywhere
Rise up, happy
Those who were afraid
And joyful for the dawn,
Hand out give garlands and lilies
You, the crown of virgins,
Give us peace,
Console our feelings,
From our sighing hearts.
*Voices of Music Classical Orchestra*
Hanneke van Proosdij, director & harpsichord
First violins
Elizabeth Blumenstock, Aniela Eddy,
Augusta McKay Lodge** & Shelby Yamin
Second violins
Lisa Grodin, Kati Kyme* & Linda Quan
Violas
Maria Caswell* Mitso Floor & Anthony Martin
Violoncelli: William Skeen* & Elisabeth Reed
Viennese double bass: Farley Pearce*
Horns: Elisabeth Axtell & Sadie Glass*
Oboes: Pablo O’Connell & Marc Schachman*
**concertmaster *principal
performed on period instruments
#Amadeus
Boby Borisov, audio engineer and ambisonics design
Video: Lloyd Hryciw
8K technology: David Tayler
Post production: David Tayler, Andrew Levy & Boby Borisov
All copyright 2023 Voices of Music
0:00 I. Exsultate Jubilate
5:00 II. Recit: Fulget amica dies
6:04 III. Aria: Tu Virginum Corona
13:11 IV. Alleluia
16:05 Credits