Salzburger Residenz Domquartier - Il re pastore - Rolando Villazon, Emily Pogorelc, Serena Saénz, Tamara Ivanis, Zachary Wilder, Giovanni Guzzo

Rolando Villazón Alessandro | Emily Pogorelc Aminta | Serena Sáenz Elisa | Tamara Ivanis Tamiri | Zackary Wilder Agenore

Il re pastore KV 208

Serenata in two acts after a libretto by Pietro Metastasio

At the same time and place, exactly 250 years ago to the day, on 23 April 1775, Wolfgang Amadé Mozart conducted the concert premiere of his two-act serenata Il re pastore at the Fürsterzbischöfliches Residenztheater in Salzburg. Following the January premiere of La finta giardiniera in Munich, Archbishop Hieronymus Count Colloredo commissioned this new stage work from the nineteen-year-old Mozart for the upcoming visit of Archduke Maximilian Franz, the youngest son of Empress Maria Theresa. Composed in just a few weeks, the piece, with its colorful orchestration and emotional depth, foreshadows Mozart's later operatic mastery. To celebrate this significant anniversary, a stellar cast led by Rolando Villazón will perform at the original venue.