Mozart Unexpurgated
The Song Company sings Mozart’s scatological canons and songs, with fortepianist Geoffrey Lancaster improvising the accompaniments and taking two irreverent solo turns.
David Barmby countertenor
Matthew Glasgow baritone
Christopher Allan baritone
James Renwick tenor
David Russell countertenor
Geoffrey Lancaster fortepiano
Paul Hooper mandolin
Penelope Sharpe soprano
Tobias Cole countertenor
Shu-Cheen Yu soprano
Jane Edwards soprano
Antony Walker tenor
David Hamilton tenor
Clive Birch bass-baritone
Roland Peelman artistic director
The booklet supplies full texts and translations. The cover carries an irreverent illustration by cartoonist Bill Leak.
Recorded in July 1991 at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, the programme moves from bawdy canons and household trios to two sets of fortepiano variations. John K. Wregg provides English texts and several new translations that restore the earthy humour of Mozart’s originals.
Reviews
I was surprised by some of the melodic inventiveness of the music…
This disc seems likely to become a collector's item…don't give it to your maiden aunt…
… quite outrageous music …(Geoffrey Lancaster plays) two sets of variations played with panache and insight
Artists
The Song Company
The Song Company sings with bite and polish across Mozart's scatological canons, Josquin's courtly chansons, and Australian choral works that protest, dance and mourn.
Geoffrey Lancaster
Geoffrey Lancaster plays Mozart and Haydn on the fortepiano with fearless freedom: improvised preludes, lavish ornament, tempo that breathes and darts. The playing reclaims the music's wit, drama and conversational intimacy.
Tracks
- Leck mich im Arsch, K. 231 (Kiss my backside) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 2:54
- Gehn wir im Prater, K. 558 (Off to the Prater) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:54
- Grechtelt's enk, K. 556 (Off we go) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart :55
- Lacrimoso son' io, K. 555 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:51
- Difficile lectu mihi mars, K. 559 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:08
- O du eselhafter Peierl! in A, K. 560a (Oh you Earnest-headed Donkey) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 2:08
- Der Zauberer, K. 472 (The Sorcerer) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 2:21
- Variations on "Salve tu, Domine" in F, K. 398 (Variations in F on a theme by Paisiello) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 7:22
- Aria: Dir danken wir die Freude 3:49
- Trio: Dir Seele des Weltalls 3:52
- Canon à 6 in D, K. 347 (Wo der perlende Wein) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:04
- Leck mir den Arsch, K. 233 (Wine's a refreshing thing … – Kiss my behind …) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 3:07
- Alleluia in C, K. 553 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:00
- Lieber Freistädler, K. 232 (Most art) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:15
- Warnung, K. 433 (Every man is fond of nibbling) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 2:04
- Caro bell'idol mio, K. 562 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:56
- Bei der Hitz' im Sommer ess ich, K. 234 (Summer's heat) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:24
- Komm, liebe Zither, K. 351 (Flower of the night) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:56
- Caro mio Druck und Schluck, K. Anh. 5 (Cara mio, Schluck und Druck) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 2:32
- Nascoso è il mio sol, K. 557 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:57
- Liebes Mandel, wo is's Bandel, K. 441 (Dearest lover, wear a cover (Bandel trio)) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 3:43
- Variations in F, K. 138a (fortepiano solo (Andante and variations without violin)) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 7:38
- V'amo di core teneramente, K. 348 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:17
- Bona nox! Bist a rechta Ox, K. 561 (Bona Nox) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:15
Dir Seele des Weltalls, K. 429 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performers
- The Song Company · ensemble
- David Barmby · countertenor · track 23
- Matthew Glasgow · baritone
- Christopher Allan · baritone · track 23
- James Renwick · tenor · track 23
- David Russell · countertenor
- Geoffrey Lancaster · fortepiano · tracks 8–10 and 22
- Paul Hooper · mandolin · track 18
- Penelope Sharpe · soprano
- Tobias Cole · countertenor · track 23
- Shu-Cheen Yu · soprano · track 23
- Jane Edwards · soprano
- Antony Walker · tenor · track 23
- David Hamilton · tenor
- Clive Birch · bass-baritone
- Roland Peelman · artistic director
Composer

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He wrote over 600 works, many of them pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic and choral music, and remains among the most enduringly popular of classical composers.
Contributors
Cover Illustration
Bill Leak
Bill Leak supplied cover art and illustrations across Tall Poppies chamber, piano and song discs, from an irreverent Mozart cartoon to quieter painted sleeves that sit beside Australian and classical programmes without drowning them out.
Liner Notes [Annotations]
Graeme Skinner
Graeme Skinner writes the annotations that turn Tall Poppies recordings into fully armed listening: texts, contexts and sharp musical argument for everything from Mozart’s rude canons to Sculthorpe’s complete string quartets.
English Texts & Translations
John K. Wregg
Where to listen
Mozart Unexpurgated is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Mozart Unexpurgated is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- TP009
- Total playing time
- 60 minutes 22 seconds
- Producer
- Belinda Webster
Eugene Ragghianti - Recording Engineer
- Belinda Webster
- Venue
- Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
- Credit
- Bill Leak
Graeme Skinner
John K. Wregg - Release date
- 4 Jun 1992
- Label
- Tall Poppies
- Musical work
copyright - © 1992 Tall Poppies Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1992 Tall Poppies Records
- Category
- Great Classics
- Genres
- Classical Era, Vocal & Opera
- Barcode
- EAN 9399000000921
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