Betulia Liberata Documentary
Salzburg Festival – An hour with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756-1791
Cast
Jeremy Ovenden — Ozia
Marijana Mijanovic — Giuditta
Julia Kleiter — Amital
Franz-Josel Selig — Prince of the Ammonites
Irena Bespalovaite — Cabri, chief of the people
Jennifer Johnston — Carmi, chief of the people
Andreas Schüller — Chorus director
Program notes
In 2006, the Mozart22 project took place in honor of the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth. It was a major project to recreate the twenty-two operas and oratorios composed by Mozart. This documentary goes behind the scenes of the production of Ascanio in Alba at that time.
The Salzburg Festival of 2006 gathered the best specialists of the Mozart repertoire - singers, conductors and directors - to interpret this unique selection of works.
Even though a small work, Mozart's oratorio (a lyric drama sung without staging, costume and scenery), La Betulia Liberata remains a work full of meaning. Mozart composed this oratorio in 1771 aged only 15, at the request of Prince of Aragon. It was inspired by the Book of Judith in the Bible. La Betulia Liberata tells the story of the city of Bethulia who, besieged by the Assyrian army, will be released thanks to the bravery of Judith who goes into the enemy camp to seduce his general before killing.
This documentary combines interviews with the conductor and singers, as well as the beautiful interpretations of the work, and other arias.