Exsultate, Jubilate - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)

The motet Exsultate, jubilate, K.165, was composed when Mozart was just sixteen.

Wolfgang and his father, Leopold, had travelled to Milan in October 1772 for the premiere of the opera Lucio Silla. The famous castrato Venanzio Rauzzini had sung the role of Cecillo in the opera - 'like an angel', according to Leopold. Precisely why Mozart composed Exsultate, jubilate at that time, and why specifically for Rauzzini and not a female soprano, is not known. The virtuosity of the piece and its florid, coloratura style at least give us some idea today of the quality of Rauzzini's voice. Exsultate, jubilate received its first performance on January 17, 1773, in the Church of San Antonio, Milan.

In this work Mozart combines the aria and recitative style of 'opera seria' with the three-part form of the Italian symphony, the movements of which have tempos that are fast, slow, and fast respectively. The result is a miniature vocal concerto in three movements.

The work opens with an Allegro in F major, followed by a slower, more lyrical Andante in A major that is preceded by a recitative. The concluding movement, Molto Allegro in F major, is the brilliant and famous Alleluia, a favourite of sopranos and concertgoers worldwide.

© ACS, December 2003

[Note to other societies: you are welcome to use the whole or parts of this text in your own programmes, but if you do please (i) let us know, and (ii) include an acknowledgement to the Aylesbury Choral Society and this website in your programme.]

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