Teatro Grattacielo
2 Riverside Drive
2C
New York, NY
10023
212-595-7127
Current
Opera
Cast - Historical Photos - About the Composer
La
Farsa Amorosa
by
Riccardo Zandonai
libretto by Arturo Rossato
(1933)
synopsis
The
opera is set in Lombardy at the time of the Spanish domination around
1630, and concerns the grape farmer, Renzo, and his wife, Lucia, who
is the object of the attentions of the Spanish mayor, Don Ferrante
Ramon Poncio D'Estrello, who also happens to be married. In a series
of mishaps, Renzo and the mayor end up masquerading as each other,
but through the wise actions of the mayor's wife, Donna Mercedes, the
mayor is taught a lesson and both couples end up happily back together.
Two other main characters, Ciccio and Checca, Renzo and Lucia's two
little donkeys—also in love—play their part in putting the mayor
in his proper place.
Some
of the outstanding melodies of the opera include Renzo and Lucia's
Act I duet, the mayor's "catalogue aria" of his conquests, "Quante
dame, quante spose" set to a bolero; Lucia's beautiful aria "Passa
i miei dì tranquilla;" the wonderful trio "Ave Maria" in
Act I, scene 2; Renzo's "La Podestessa è bella," and
Mercedes's pensive introduction to Act III, as well as many symphonic
pages with a lengthy overture and two orchestral intermezzi with chorus.
The opera was deemed by many critics of the time to be Zandonai's greatest achievement, combining brilliant melodies, vivacious rhythms and colorful orchestration; but with the advent of World War II and subsequent upheavals in Europe the opera was forgotten, receiving only one more revival in Trieste in 1954, its last complete performance.