La campana sommersa

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La campana sommersa is an opera in 4 acts by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi. Its libretto is by Claudio Guastalla, based on the play Die versunkene Glocke by German author Gerhart Hauptmann. The opera's premiere was on November 18, 1927 in Hamburg, Germany. Respighi's regular publisher, Ricordi, was displeased by his choice of subject, and refused to publish the opera. This lead to its being published by the German publisher Bote & Bock, and a German premiere.

The fairy-tale world of Hauptmann's play inspired Respighi to create his most lavishly and imaginatively orchestrated operatic score, which frequently reminds the listener of his famous symphonic poems. Since the opera's anti-hero Enrico is a bell maker, Respighi fills the music with many chiming and ringing effects.

[edit] Characters

• Rautendelein, an Elf Girl--soprano
• Ondino, a Water Spirit--baritone
• Fauno, a Faun--tenor
• Enrico, a Bell Maker--tenor
• An Old Witch, Rautendelein's Grandmother--soprano
• A Priest--bass
• A Schoolmaster--baritone
• A Barber--baritone
• Magda, Enrico's Wife--soprano
• The specters of Enrico's two children (speaking roles)