Lo frate 'nnamorato

Lo frate 'nnamorato
Commedia musicale by G. B. Pergolesi

Caricature of the composer by Pier Leone Ghezzi, c. 1734
Translation The Brother in Love
Librettist Gennaro Antonio Federico
Language Italian (Neapolitan)
Premiere 27 September 1732 (1732-09-27)
Teatro dei Fiorentini, Naples

Lo frate 'nnamorato (Neapolitan: The Brother in Love) is a three-act commedia musicale (a form of opera buffa) by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, to a Neapolitan libretto by Gennaro Antonio Federico, first performed in 1732.

Composition history

The opera, written when the composer was only 22, is his first attempt at comic opera. (It was followed in 1733 by his better-known short opera, La serva padrona). The first performance was on 27 September 1732, at the Teatro dei Fiorentini, Naples. A successful run was halted by a severe earthquake, which closed the theatres in Naples until the autumn of 1733. It was re-presented during the 1734 carnival season, in a version revised by the author.

Roles

Role Voice type[1] Premiere cast[2]
27 September 1732
Marcaniello, an elderly Neapolitan bass Giacomo D'Ambrosio
Ascanio, his adopted son soprano (in travesti) Teresa Passaglioni
Luggrezia, his daughter contralto Rosa Gherardini
Don Pietro, Marcaniello´s son bass Girolamo Piani
Carlo, a Roman tenor Giovanni Battista Ciriaci
Nina, his niece contralto Teresa De Palma [3]
Nena, his niece soprano Marianna Ferrante
Vannella, Carlo's maidservant soprano Margherita Pozzi
Cardella, Marcaniello's maidservant soprano Maria Morante[4]

Synopsis

The opera is set in the house of Marcaniello in the Capodimonte region of Naples. Ascanio, the brother of Nina and Nena, was stolen by brigands in childhood and presumed lost; he was however found and adopted by Marcaniello. Now Nina and Nena are the wards of their uncle, the Roman Don Carlo. Don Carlo wishes to marry Luggrezia, the daughter of Marcaniello, who himself wishes to marry Nina and to take Nena as wife for his son, the foppish Don Pietro. Nina and Nena meanwhile have fallen in love with Ascanio, not realising their relationship. The two maids Vanella (servant of Carlo) and Cardella (servant of Marcaniello) comment on and take part in the various intrigues which ensue. Finally, in a duel with Carlo, the latter recognises Ascanio as his lost nephew by a birthmark on his arm. Ascanio and Luggrezia are now free to marry.

Recordings

key: conductor / nena/nina/luggrezia/ascanio/carlo/marcaniello/pietro

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Mellace
  2. ↑ "CORAGO" (in Italian). University of Bologna. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  3. ↑ In the 1734 revival this role was taken by Maria Caterina Negri
  4. ↑ In the 1734 revival this role was taken by Virginia Gasparrini

References

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