Research in the field of 21st-century musicology focuses on the comprehensive understanding of artistic phenomena through the lens of contemporary trends and historical contexts. Particular attention is drawn to research directions that integrate practical (especially performative) and theoretical aspects to effectively comprehend various phenomena, events, and components of creativity. This includes those aimed at reinterpreting established concepts. Within this framework, the systematization and renewal of knowledge about the artistic and aesthetic processes related to the works of prominent composers of the past gain significance – especially those whose influence has profoundly transformed the traditions of musical culture, both in their own time and within the broader historical continuum. The evolution of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's vocal style represents one of the most intriguing and pivotal issues in musicology, as its study unveils the multifaceted artistic processes of the 18th century and sheds light on the mechanisms of aesthetic and technical transformations that shaped the development of vocal art during that era. Mozart's vocal oeuvre, which blends the traditions of the Baroque style, including the phenomenon of castrati, with the innovations of Classicism, holds a unique place in global musical culture. Its stylistic and technical richness offers vast opportunities for exploring the processes of aesthetic interaction between different historical periods, as well as the profound transformations that occurred during the composer’s lifetime. Although research on Mozart's operatic legacy emphasizes his achievements in vocal composition, the components that reveal the interplay between his style and the performative traditions of the Baroque and Classicism within the dynamics of semantic evolution remain insufficiently explored. The study underscores the importance of examining the role of castrati as a phenomenon of Baroque opera.
The genre of the concert aria, representing one of the most innovative yet refined forms of Mozart's vocal creativity, serves as a promising subject for study in terms of dramaturgy, musical expressiveness, and sociocultural context. In these works, the synthesis of music and text, along with the interaction between orchestral accompaniment and the vocal line, achieves an exceptional level of unity.
The study of concert arias reveals not only the influence of Baroque traditions on Mozart's compositional style but also his innovative approaches to vocal composition, which shaped the aesthetics of Classicism.
The study explores the factors shaping the individuality of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as a multifaceted process, integrating educational, sociocultural, and genre-specific elements that influence the embodiment of the composer’s style. It is emphasized that Mozart’s musical education, grounded in the traditions of Joseph Haydn and the Mannheim school, laid the foundation for his technical mastery, while his ability to transform classical canons into innovative forms defined the uniqueness of his style.
The study also highlights the presence of innovative approaches to the structure of song forms, reflecting the early signs of the development of extended dramaturgy, which later found expression in more complex vocal genres, such as the concert aria. The concert aria, which became the culmination of developed song forms, marks a significant stage in the transformation of vocal style. Mozart elevated this genre to a new level, integrating text, music, and dramaturgy into a unified conceptual integrity. A distinctive feature of the concert aria in his interpretation is its use as a tool for the detailed revelation of the inner world of the character through structurally complex musical forms, which encompass expansive melodic themes, harmonic contrasts, and refined vocal technique.
Thus, the study of Mozart's vocal practice opens new perspectives for exploring the interaction of vocal techniques and their evolution in the context of 18th-century musical aestheticism, particularly in terms of integrating technical and aesthetic principles in shaping a cohesive understanding of vocal practice.
