Antonio Salieri: Prima la musica, poi le parole - Overture and first duet

Prima la musica e poi le parole, also called Prima la musica, poi le parole is an opera in one act by Antonio Salieri. It was first performed on February 7, 1786 in Vienna, following a commission by the Emperor Joseph II. The opera (more specifically, a divertimento teatrale) was first performed at one end of his orangery by an Italian troupe. Simultaneously, Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor was staged at the other end. The libretto was written by Giovanni Battista Casti.

Count Opizio contracts a new opera to be written to be ready in four days. The composer has already created the score, but the poet is suffering from writers block and resorts to trying to adapt previous verses he has written to the existing music.

Robert Holl and Thomas Hampson sing, Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsteram