Thamos, King of Egypt
Thamos, King of Egypt is a play by, for which, between 1773 and 1780, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote incidental music, K. 345/336a, of an operatic character.
The autograph manuscript of the work is preserved in the Berlin State Library.
Early performances
It is not known for certain whether the music that Mozart composed was performed with the play during his lifetime. The play's première took place at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna, probably on 4 April 1774, by which time two choruses had been written. Performances in Salzburg in 1776 and 1779-80 may have incorporated the orchestral interludes and the three choruses in their final form, respectively. The music was re-used in 1783 in a different play, Lanassa, by Karl Martin Plümicke.Roles
The only named role in Mozart's music is Sethos, the high priest. There are parts for four other soloists and for a chorus of priests and priestesses.Synopsis
Thamos has succeeded his father, Ramesses, as king of Egypt, but Ramesses had usurped the throne from the rightful king, Menes, who is now disguised as the high priest, Sethos. Thamos loves Sais, a priestess, but she is really Menes' daughter Tharsis, for whom the high priestess Mirza is plotting marriage to Pheron, a treacherous general. When Menes reveals his true identity, Pheron is struck by lightning and Mirza kills herself. Menes cedes his crown to Thamos and Tharsis as all ends happily.Literary sources
King Thamos is an imaginary character, but it is likely his character was inspired by Thamus, mythical Pharaoh of Upper Egypt mentioned by Socrates in the Platonic dialogue Phaedrus.Musical numbers
Act 1- Chorus: "Schon weichet dir, Sonne"
- Interlude
- Interlude
- Interlude
- Interlude
- Chorus and soloists: "Gottheit, über alle mächtig!"
- Chorus with solo for Sethos: "Ihr Kinder des Staubes, erzittert"
Recordings
The following list shows the discography of the work either in its entirety, with soloists, choir and orchestra, or shortened/cut versions:- Ruthilde Boesch, Ilse Hollweg, Maria Nussbaumer-Knoflach, Waldemar Kmentt, Walter Berry, Wiener Kammerchor, Wiener Symphoniker conducted by Bernhard Paumgartner.
- London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Peter Maag.
- Charlotte Lehmann, Rose Scheible, Oly Pfaff, Bruce Abel, Vokalensemble Heilbronn, Württemberg Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jörg Faerber.
- Karin Eickstaedt, Gisela Pohl, Eberhard Büchner, Theo Adam, Hermann Christian Polster, Solistenvereinigung des Berliner Rundfunks, Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Bernhard Klee.
- Thomas Thomaschke, Janet Perry, Anne-Marie Mühle, Marius van Altena, Harry van der Kamp, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Collegium Vocale, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
- Robert Holl, Salzburger Kammerchor, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg conducted by Leopold Hager.
- Alastair Miles, The Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner.