K492 The Benucci Recitative to "Non piu andrai" MozartForum Articles

Dennis Pajot

While examining the parts material of Le Nozze di Figaro in the Bibliiothek des R. Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini (formerly Istituto musicale) in Florence, Alfred Einstein came across an incomplete parts copy of Figaro's aria "Non piu andrai" (it lacks the Viola part) from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. What was surprising is that the aria was preceded by a completely unknown Recitativo accompagnato.

In the 1937 journal Die Musicke Einstein published the Recitativo accompagnato, with comments. Einstein believed the energy and freshness of the piece, Figaro's humorously correcting himself in calling Cherubino a page, his emphatic obeisance in the words "Sor Capitano", and the quotation of the March from the following aria after the words "Uffiziale di Cavalleria" are all worthy of Mozart.

Admitting it was possible a Bass singer who wished to sing this aria in concert had commissioned the recitative from "a good judge of the Mozart style", Einstein had what he saw as proof this was authentic Mozart. On the voice part, in the upper right corner stood the name "Benucci". The form of the letters left no doubt to Einstein this was written by Wolfgang Mozart. Of course Francesco Benucciwas the first Figaro in Mozart's opera.

Einstein was certain Mozart composed the Accompagnato for a concert performance of the aria by his favorite singer. Einstein also speculated the text could have been prepared by Lorenzo DaPonte. If this hypothetical concert took place before or after the May 1, 1786, premier of Le Nozze di Figaro Einstein stated had to remain undecided until further research uncovered a complete program. However Einstein was inclined to think the concert took place before the first performance of the opera, thus during Carnival or in the spring of 1786.

How could this manuscript have made its way to Florence without anyone knowing of its existence? As the Bibliothek Isituto musicale contained a series of manuscripts that originated from the personal possession of Gottfried von Jacquin, Einstein believed it likely Jacquin--himself a Bass singer--requested from Mozart this aria, along with the Recitative, and then never returned it.

Einstein reported of this Recitativo accompagnato in K3a and printed the score in full. It is also included in K6.

However Einstein's supposition has problems. The major one was reported by Michael and Christopher Raeburn in the 1959 volume of Music & Letters. The name "Benucci", which Einstein believed in Mozart's hand, when compared with the name when written in Mozart's own work catalogue indicated two different hands, and threw doubt on Einstein entire theory.

Then in the 1973 Neue Mozart-Ausgabe volume of Le Nozze di Figaro Ludwig Finscher thought Mozart's authorship of the recitativo untenable. He thought the piece rather primitive, and believed the name "Benucci" was mostly a hand written possessor remark ofBenucci himself. Finscher did not believe the composition had anything directly to do with Mozart.

Both Alan Tyson and Dexter Edge took up the Florence score and parts of the opera (not specifically the Recitativo) and came to the conclusion the score and parts probably have a connection with the Viennese court theater copyists, and seem to date from the first decade of the 19th Century--from around the time of a Viennese revival of the opera in 1807. Benucci's last documented performance in Vienna was in 1792. He seems to have retired from singing in 1800 and died in 1824.

What of Einstein's supposition that Benucci sang this in concert? While it can not be proved or disproved, Dorothea Link writesBenucci rarely gave concerts. He is known to have given only one for himself, in Lent 1785. Although she writes he sometimes accepted invitations from the nobility to sing at private concerts.

If Mozart did not compose the Recitativo, who did? I see no basis for any speculation, we have no evidence at all for one.

The Recitativo accompagnato has been recorded twice. It is included in the Philip Complete Mozart Edition vol.23 (sung by Bryn Terfel), and as an appendix to the opera Le Nozze di Figaro on Charles Mackerras' Teldec recording (Alastair Miles singing).

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K492 The Benucci Recitative to "Non piu andrai"

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