Sposa fedele, La (‘The Faithful Bride’)

Extract

Opera buffa in three acts by Pietro Alessandro Guglielmi ( see Guglielmi family, §1 ) to a libretto by Chiari, Pietro ; Venice, Teatro S Moisè, Carnival 1767.

Rosinella (soprano) and Pasqualino (tenor) have eloped but have been separated in a shipwreck. They land close to the estate of the Marchese del Vento Ponente (tenor), but do not discover each other’s presence. Rosinella’s arrival (she introduces herself as Donna Aurora del Campo) diverts the Marchese and Conte Lelio from their previous amorous situations; both fall in love with her. Rosinella reciprocates the Marchese’s tenderness until she realizes that Pasqualino has landed safely and has been employed as her servant. The couple do not divulge their true identities, and Act 2 ends with a series of confused meetings in the dark. Act 3 ends with the Marchese permitting the lovers to marry, once he knows that Pasqualino is of an appropriate social class for the ‘Donna Aurora del Campo’. A main characteristic of this piece is the enlarged middle ground between comic and serious characters. Pasqualino and Rosinella both have significant elements of comedy and pathos; this is evident in the text and in their music, which includes simple melodies, similar to folktunes, highflown noble pieces and sentimental arias....