Emoke Barath & Elisabeth Einarsdottir - Mozart: MITRIDATE, Se viver non degg'io (soprano duet), 2022

SOPRANO DUET SONGBIRDS: Hungarian soprano Emőke Baráth was born in 1985. She studied music in Gödöllő, Budapest, and Florence. Barath did well in several competitions, and was invited to perform in European festivals and venues initially specializing in baroque works. Her Handel roles alone include Sesto, Antigona, Oriana, Alceste, Almirena, Armindo, Morgana, and Asteria -- in top venues in Paris, Vienna, and Madrid. Other baroque era works by Cavelli, Monteverdi, Gluck, Rameau, Leclair, and Bach have mixed in with Mozart roles (Susanna, Tamiri, Zerlina, and Sifare). Swedish soprano Elisabet Einarsdottir was born in Gothenburg. She received music degrees from the Iceland Academy of the Arts and Conservatorio G. Verdi in Milan, as well as a two-year internship with Malmö Opera Academy. She made her professional operatic debut in 2013. Roles have included Susanna, Despina, Fiordiligi, Zerlina, Norina, and Tytania in Sweden, Italy, San Marino, and Germany. Einarsdottir has also sung in several contemporary works on stage and in concert, highlighted by a collaboration with composer Petter Ekman. This performance is from a broadcast out of Sweden, with Lars Ulrik Mortensen conducting the Copenhagen Concerto. THE MUSIC: Mozart wrote his first opera seria "Mitridate, re di Ponto" K.87 in 1770 when he was 14 years old; it premiered in Milan late that same year. The plot is loaded with interwoven political and amorous rivalries and complications. The leading soprano role is Aspasia, who is pledged to marry Mitridate (the King and the lead tenor) while being romantically pursued by Farnace (a general and an alto) -- meanwhile she is in love with Farnace's brother Sifare (another soprano). This great duet for two sopranos concludes the second act as the lovers pledge themselves to each other and vow to die together.