Il signor Bruschino
Encyclopedia
Il signor Bruschino, ossia Il figlio per azzardo (Signor Bruschino, or Made Son by Gamble) is a one act opera
tic farce (farsa giocosa per musica) by Gioachino Rossini to a libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa, based upon the play Le fils par hasard, ou ruse et folie by Alissan de Chazet and E.T.M. Ourry. The opera was first performed in Venice
at the Teatro San Moisè
on January 27, 1813.
From 1810 to 1813, the young Rossini composed four Italian farces, beginning with La cambiale di matrimonio (Bill of Exchange of Marriage), his first opera
, and ending with Il signor Bruschino. These types of short pieces were popular in Venice at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. The pieces were intimate, with a cast of five to eight singers, always including a pair of lovers, here Sofia and Florville, at least two comic parts, here Bruschino senior, Gaudenzio and Filiberto, and one or more minor roles, here Marianna, Bruschino junior and a policeman. The style called for much visual comedy improvised by the players, and often a compulsive linguistic ‘tic’. Here, Bruschino senior often repeats the phrase "Oh, it’s so hot!". As compared with many genres of opera, acting and comedic talent is more important relative to the required singing ability. Rossini’s farces also have a significant sentimental element. Overall, it has been described as "a vivacious and fast-moving musical comedy, whose graceful score reveals traces still of Cimarosa and even Mozart.
Il signor Bruschino is forward-looking in its use of new musical effects. For example, in the overture, the second violins are instructed to tap their bows on their music stands. This lighthearted, energetic overture
is one of several by Rossini to have gained considerable importance in the modern concert repertoire.
premiere took place on 9 December 1932 at the Metropolitan Opera
and it was first seen on 14 July 1960 in England, presented by the Kent Opera Group, an amateur company. It is performed infrequently, but other performances have taken place "in Italy and elsewhere in Europe", in particular, stagings in Paris and Macerata
in 1992.
Sofia and Florville are in love, but her guardian, Gaudenzio, opposes the match. Florville's father and Gaudenzio are old enemies. Florville's father dies, removing one barrier, but Gaudenzio has already agreed to wed Sofia to the son of his old friend, Signor Bruschino. Sofia has never met her fiancée, as they were betrothed by correspondence. On his way to meet Sofia, young Bruschino stops at a tavern, runs up an impressive bill and is detained when he is unable to pay. Seizing the opportunity, Florville pretends to be Bruschino junior so that he can marry Sofia. Complications arise when Bruschino senior arrives at Gaudenzio's house. Fortunately, however, he is eventually forced to accept Florville as his own son. In a playful trio, Florville (as Bruschino junior) begs his "father" for forgiveness, while Gaudenzio upbraids old Bruschino for his lack of fatherly sympathy.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic farce (farsa giocosa per musica) by Gioachino Rossini to a libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa, based upon the play Le fils par hasard, ou ruse et folie by Alissan de Chazet and E.T.M. Ourry. The opera was first performed in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
at the Teatro San Moisè
Teatro San Moisè
The Teatro San Moisè was an opera house in Venice, active from 1640 to 1818. It was in a prominent location near the Palazzo Giustinian and the church of San Moisè at the entrance to the Grand Canal....
on January 27, 1813.
From 1810 to 1813, the young Rossini composed four Italian farces, beginning with La cambiale di matrimonio (Bill of Exchange of Marriage), his first opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, and ending with Il signor Bruschino. These types of short pieces were popular in Venice at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. The pieces were intimate, with a cast of five to eight singers, always including a pair of lovers, here Sofia and Florville, at least two comic parts, here Bruschino senior, Gaudenzio and Filiberto, and one or more minor roles, here Marianna, Bruschino junior and a policeman. The style called for much visual comedy improvised by the players, and often a compulsive linguistic ‘tic’. Here, Bruschino senior often repeats the phrase "Oh, it’s so hot!". As compared with many genres of opera, acting and comedic talent is more important relative to the required singing ability. Rossini’s farces also have a significant sentimental element. Overall, it has been described as "a vivacious and fast-moving musical comedy, whose graceful score reveals traces still of Cimarosa and even Mozart.
Il signor Bruschino is forward-looking in its use of new musical effects. For example, in the overture, the second violins are instructed to tap their bows on their music stands. This lighthearted, energetic overture
Overture
Overture in music is the term originally applied to the instrumental introduction to an opera...
is one of several by Rossini to have gained considerable importance in the modern concert repertoire.
Performance history
The opera was not given in North America nor in Britain until the 20th century. Its New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
premiere took place on 9 December 1932 at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
and it was first seen on 14 July 1960 in England, presented by the Kent Opera Group, an amateur company. It is performed infrequently, but other performances have taken place "in Italy and elsewhere in Europe", in particular, stagings in Paris and Macerata
Macerata
Macerata is a city and comune in central Italy, the capital of the province of Macerata in the Marche region.The historical city center is located on a hill between the Chienti and Potenza rivers. It consisted of the Picenes city named Ricina, then, after the romanization, Recina and Helvia Recina...
in 1992.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, January 27, 1813 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| Gaudenzio, a tutor and Sofia's guardian | bass | Nicola De Grecis |
| Sofia | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Teodolinda Pontiggia |
| Bruschino senior | bass | Luigi Raffanelli |
| Bruschino junior | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
Gaetano Dal Monte |
| Florville, Sofia's lover | tenor | Tommaso Berti |
| Filiberto, an innkeeper | bass | Nicola Tacci |
| Marianna, a maidservant | soprano | Carolina Nagher |
| A Police Commissioner | tenor | Gaetano Dal Monte |
| Servants | silent | |
Synopsis
- Time: 18th Century
- Place: Gaudenzio's castle in France.
Sofia and Florville are in love, but her guardian, Gaudenzio, opposes the match. Florville's father and Gaudenzio are old enemies. Florville's father dies, removing one barrier, but Gaudenzio has already agreed to wed Sofia to the son of his old friend, Signor Bruschino. Sofia has never met her fiancée, as they were betrothed by correspondence. On his way to meet Sofia, young Bruschino stops at a tavern, runs up an impressive bill and is detained when he is unable to pay. Seizing the opportunity, Florville pretends to be Bruschino junior so that he can marry Sofia. Complications arise when Bruschino senior arrives at Gaudenzio's house. Fortunately, however, he is eventually forced to accept Florville as his own son. In a playful trio, Florville (as Bruschino junior) begs his "father" for forgiveness, while Gaudenzio upbraids old Bruschino for his lack of fatherly sympathy.
Musical numbers
- Sinfonia
- "Deh! tu m'assisti amore"
- Duettino - "Marianna!... Voi signore?"
- "Quanto e dolce a un'alma amnate"
- "A voi lieto ritorno, cara Sofia"
- "Ah se il colpo arrivo a fare"
- "A noi su, trasformiamoci"
- "Nel teatro del gran mondo"
- "Lasciatemi... che violenza!..."
- "Per un figlio gia pentito"
- "Impaziente son io di Saper"
- "Ah, voi condur volete... Ah, donate il caro sposo"
- "Qui convien finirla"
- "Ho la testa, o e andata via?"
- "Va tutto ben"
- "E bel nodo, che due cori"
- "Ebben, ragion, dovere"
- "E tornato Filiberto"
Recordings
| Year | Cast: Gaudenzio, Sofia, Bruschino padre, Marianna, Florville |
Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Samuel Ramey Samuel Ramey Samuel Edward Ramey is an American operatic bass with a long, distinguished career.During his best years, he was greatly admired for his range and versatility, having possessed a sufficiently accomplished bel canto technique to enable him to sing the music of Handel, Mozart, Rossini, yet power... , Kathleen Battle Kathleen Battle Kathleen Battle , is an African-American operatic soprano known for her agile and light voice and her silvery, pure tone. Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performances with major orchestras during the early and mid 1970s. She made her opera debut in... , Claudio Desderi, Jennifer Larmore Jennifer Larmore Jennifer Larmore is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer, noted for coloratura and bel canto.- Career :Jennifer Larmore is an American mezzo-soprano, well known for her versatility, natural beauty and stage craft... , Frank Lopardo |
Ion Marin, English Chamber Orchestra (Recorded in the Henry Wood Hall, London, May) |
Audio CD: DG Cat: 477 5668 & 000875102 |
| 2009 | David Park, Olga Peretyatko, Vladimir Chernov Vladimir Chernov Vladimir Chernov is a Russian baritone, particularly associated with the Russian and Italian opera repertories.-Early life:... , Michaela Adamcova, Kirlianit Cortes |
Michi Gaigg, L'Orfeo Barockorchester (Recording of a performance in the Kammermusksaal, Graz, March) |
Audio CD: premiereopera.net Cat: no number |
External links
- Libretto in Italian at Karadar
- Carlo Piazza, Il signor Bruschino from the Festival di Torrechiara, 2001, commentary, retrieved 26 February 2010
- Center for Italian Opera Studies at The University of Chicago critical edition outline, retrieved 26 February 2010