While in Paris in 1841, during a lull between commissions, Donizetti composed the 50-minute opera buffa Rita in just a week. He hoped to have it performed by the Opéra Comique, but it was rejected and the composer never saw it produced. In spite of the speed of its composition, the opera shows no sign of haste, and has the same lightness and inventiveness of Donizetti's best comic operas. The libretto, by his friend Gustave Vaez, gave the composer the ideal framework for a winning comedy -- vividly drawn, quirky characters, ...
Read More
While in Paris in 1841, during a lull between commissions, Donizetti composed the 50-minute opera buffa Rita in just a week. He hoped to have it performed by the Opéra Comique, but it was rejected and the composer never saw it produced. In spite of the speed of its composition, the opera shows no sign of haste, and has the same lightness and inventiveness of Donizetti's best comic operas. The libretto, by his friend Gustave Vaez, gave the composer the ideal framework for a winning comedy -- vividly drawn, quirky characters, and an original and witty plot. Rita, a lovely and vivacious innkeeper, is also something of a termagant who mercilessly abuses her second husband, Beppe. When her first husband Gasparo, whom she supposed had died at sea, turns up alive, the two men battle not over which will be her husband, but which will be free of her. Donizetti treats the absurdities of the plot with appropriate irreverence and gives each of the characters plenty of opportunities for coloratura vocal display....
Read Less
Portions of content provided by Rovi Corporation. © 2024 Rovi Corporation.