Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Aria No. 13 "Lungi da te, mio bene" from the opera "Mitridate, Re di Ponto" K. 87, for solo horn, soprano and piano
Mozart composed this opera during his journey to Italy in 1770. He began work on it on 29 September 1770 in Bologna; the premiere took place in Milan on 26 December 1770.
Aria No. 13, "Lungi da te, mio bene," was originally scored for two tutti horns only. This version was already nearly complete when Mozart reworked it at the request of the singer of the role of Sifare – Pietro Benedetti, known as Sartorino. Presumably at the request of the Milan opera's principal horn player, though this is not documented, an additional solo horn part was inserted after the first orchestral rehearsal. Both versions of the aria have survived.
Even among connoisseurs of the horn repertoire, this work by Mozart for solo horn remains relatively little known. In time for the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, this aria is now published in a piano reduction, making it accessible for chamber-music concerts as well. For historically informed performance: the natural horn is pitched in D. The role of "Sifare" (he and Farnace are the sons of King Mitridate) may be sung by a soprano or countertenor.
