About this edition
Composed in 1772 when Mozart was just sixteen, Lucio Silla, K.135 stands as one of the most ambitious works of his Italian period — a three-act opera seria that anticipates the dramatic intensity and vocal sophistication of his mature stage works. Premiered at Milan's Teatro Regio Ducale on December 26, 1772, the opera features remarkable arias written for the legendary castrato Venanzio Rauzzini (whose performance inspired Mozart to compose the celebrated motet Exsultate, jubilate just weeks later), as well as some of the most demanding coloratura writing of the eighteenth century. The score reveals a young composer already in full command of orchestral color, dramatic pacing, and the expressive possibilities of accompanied recitative.
This printing reproduces the score as it appeared in the landmark Mozarts Werke collected edition, published by Breitkopf & Härtel of Leipzig in 1880 (Serie V, Band 4, No. 8; plate W.A.M. 135). Edited by some of the leading Mozart scholars of the nineteenth century, the Breitkopf Gesamtausgabe was the first comprehensive critical edition of Mozart's works and remained the standard scholarly reference for nearly a century. Its clean engraving, careful editorial judgment, and authoritative presentation of the full orchestral fabric have made it an enduring resource for conductors, scholars, and performers.
About this edition:
- Format: Full orchestral score (study and reference)
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Source: Mozarts Werke, Serie V, Bd. 4, No. 8 — Breitkopf & Härtel, Leipzig, 1880 (plate W.A.M. 135)
- Contents: Complete three-act opera seria, including overture, arias, recitatives, ensembles, and choruses
- Reproduction: Faithfully reproduced from a public domain historical edition
- Publisher: Purple 4R Publishing
This edition makes a treasured historical score conveniently available in print, bringing one of Mozart's most fascinating early operas within easy reach of conductors, singers, students, and Mozart enthusiasts. We're delighted to help keep this remarkable music alive in libraries, studios, and on stands around the world.
