La vedova scaltra

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La vedova scaltra
Opera by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari 1906.jpg
The composer in 1906
TranslationThe Cunning Widow
LibrettistMario Ghisalberti
LanguageItalian
Based onLa vedova scaltra
by Carlo Goldoni
Premiere
5 March 1931 (1931-03-05)
Teatro Reale dell'Opera, Rome

La vedova scaltra (English: The Cunning Widow) is an opera in three acts by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari to a text by Mario Ghisalberti, after Carlo Goldoni's original play (also called La vedova scaltra) first given in 1748.

Performance history[]

It was first performed at the Teatro Reale dell'Opera in Rome on 5 March 1931, Director Gino Marinuzzi and opera director . It was revived in Venice, in celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Carlo Goldoni, in February 2007. This performance, with Anne-Lise Sollied, Maurizo Muraro and Emanuele D'Aguanno as the main soloists, has been recorded (see below).

Roles[]

Role Voice type Premiere Cast,
5 March 1931
(Conductor: Gino Marinuzzi)
Rosaura, a widow soprano Adelaide Saraceni
Monsieur Le Beau, a Frenchman tenor Alessio De Paolis
Conte di Bosco Nero, an Italian tenor Alessandro Ziliani
Milord Runebif, an Englishman baritone Giulio Cirino
Don Alvaro di Castiglia, a Spaniard baritone Giacomo Vaghi
Marionette soprano Rina De Ferrari
Folletto tenor Adelio Zagonara
Arlecchino baritone Emilio Ghirardini
Birif bass Mario Bianchi
Majordomo bass Pierantonio Prodi

Synopsis[]

The story is a comedy about a young widow courted by four suitors of different nationalities.

Recordings[]

  • Wolf-Ferrari: La vedova scaltra Principal singers: Anne-Lise Sollied (Rosaura), Maurizio Muraro (Runebif), Emanuele D'Aguanno (Le Beau), Mark Milhofer (Bosco Nero), Riccardo Zanellato (Castiglia), Elena Rossi (Marionette), Alex Esposito (Arlecchino), Claudio Zancopé (Birif), Luca Favaron (Folletto), Antonio Casagrande (servant)- Teatro La Fenice Orchestra. Conductor: Karl Martin Director: Massimo Gasparon Recording date: 1 September 2008 Label: Naxos - (CD and DVD)
  • Wolf-Ferrari: La vedova scaltra. Anne-Lise Sollied, Henriette Bonde-Hansen, Francesco Piccoli, Orchestre National de Montpellier, Enrique Mazzola Accord Universal France (CD).

References[]

  • Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "La vedova scaltra, 5 March 1931". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  • Waterhouse, John C G (1992), 'Vedova scaltra, La' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
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