Duetto buffo di due gatti

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Duetto buffo di due gatti ("humorous duet for two cats") is a popular performance piece for sopranos, sometimes given as an encore at concerts. Although frequently attributed to Gioacchino Rossini, it was in fact a contemporary parody of his Otello.

The lyrics are uncharacteristic, consisting entirely of the repeated word "miau" ("meow").

The music consists of

part of the cabaletta to the aria "Ah, come mai non senti", sung by Rodrigo in Act 2 of Otello
part of the duet in the same act for Otello and Iago
the "Katte-Cavatine" by the Danish composer C.E.F. Weyse^[1]

In 1973, Duet for two Cats. Sometimes attributed to Rossini. [A facsimile of the edition published by Ewer & Johanning, c. 1825, under the pseudonym of G. Berthold, with an introduction by Edgar Hunt and a facsimile of Pearsall's autograph score.]^[2] was reprinted by German-based music publisher Schott. It is understood from the 1825 printing that Robert Lucas de Pearsall was responsible for the unusual lyrics and arrangement. Despite the evidence, music publishers and record labels routinely give full credit to Rossini.

1 Recordings
2 Notes
3 References
4 See also

[edit] Recordings

Some albums including this piece are:

A Tribute to Gerald Moore, EMI Classics: Victoria de los Angeles (soprano), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Gerald Moore (piano), released 2003 (expanded reissue of 1969 release), also known as "Le Duo des Chats"

Sweet Power of Song, EMI Classics: Felicity Lott (soprano), Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano), Graham Johnson (piano), released 1990

Duets for Two Sopranos, BIS: Elisabeth Söderström (soprano) and Kerstin Meyer (mezzo-soprano), Jan Eyron (piano), released 1992

Wir Schwestern Zwei, Wie Schönen, Nightingale: Edita Gruberova (soprano), Vesselina Kasarova (mezzo soprano), and Friedrich Haider (piano). Last track, also identified as "Katzen-Duett"