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L’opera seria (Gassmann) Wolf Trap VA 2016 Ollarsaba Hacker Yoon Lyons
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: L'opera seria
- Composer: Gassmann Florian Leopold
- Libretto: Ranieri de' Calzabigi, Metastasio Libretto Text, Libretto Index
- Venue & Opera Company: The Barns at Wolf Trap Opera, Virginia
- Recorded: July 2016
- Type: Staged Opera Live
- Singers: Richard Ollarsaba, Jonas Hacker, Kihun Yoon, Clarissa Lyons, Mane Galoyan, Amy Owens, Alasdair Kent, Christian Zaremba
- Conductor: Eric Melear
- Orchestra:
- Chorus Master: David Hanlon
- Choreographer: Justin Greer
- Stage Director: Matthew Ozawa
- Stage Designer: Charlie Corcoran
- Costume Designer: Sally Dolembo
- Lighting Designer: Robert H. Grimes
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Wolf Trap
- Date Published: 2016
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: nosubs
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
THE STORY
ACT 1 – We meet the players and the creative team: The librettist Delirio and composer Sospiro flatter one another mercilessly on the morning of the premiere of their new opera L’Oranzebe, but the impresario Fallito is critical of their work. The prima donna Stonatrilla makes a grand entrance, and she schools the young soprano Porporina on the difference between their stations. Relationships emerge: Porporina is beloved by the composer Sospiro, and the lead tenor Ritornello has eyes only for the hyper-sensitive seconda donna Smorfiosa. The dancing master Passagallo prevails upon the impresario to hire additional dancers. As the act ends, the singers inspect and criticize their costumes and their parts.
Intermission
ACT 2 – Rehearsals are underway, and both Ritornello and Porporina receive new arias to learn. The final rehearsal begins with Act Two. It includes Ritornello’s monologue (with lyrics errors), Smorfiosa’s vengeance aria (with nonsensical repetition), Ritornello and Stonatrilla’s duet, Porporina’s simile aria (featuring the dolphin and tuna), Stonatrilla’s seemingly endless accompanied recitative and aria, and Ritornello’s new tempest aria. Then the dancers arrive, the singers gossip viciously about a particular ballerina, and a fight ensues.
Intermission
ACT 3 – The curtain rises on the premiere performance of L’Oranzebe, during which the captured princess Saebe (Smorfiosa) begs the victorious general Nasercano (Ritornello) to take her life, and the princess Rossanara (Stonatrilla) is stung with jealousy. Hissing and booing break out in the audience. The performers flee, and the curtain falls. Passagallo pacifies the audience with the promise that his dancers will perform instead. Backstage, the creative team bickers. In the dressing rooms, the divas and their mothers gossip. Sospiro astounds all with scandalous news about Fallito, and all join in a solemn oath of eternal hatred for opera impresarios!