La scala di seta (The Silken Ladder or Die seidene Leiter) is an operaticfarsa comica in one act by Gioachino Rossini to a libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa. It was first performed in Venice, Italy, at the Teatro San Moisè on 9 May 1812. The overture has been frequently recorded and continues to be featured in the modern concert repertoire.
From 1810 to 1813, the young Rossini composed four Italian farse, beginning with La cambiale di matrimonio (The Bill 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 seven singers, always including a pair of lovers, at least two comic parts, and one or two other minor roles. The style called for much visual comedy improvised by the players. As compared to 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.
Dormont is the teacher and guardian of the beautiful Giulia, and he is determined that she will marry Blansac despite her continual rejection of his advances. The fact is that Giulia is already married to Blansac's friend Dorvil, who every night is able to exercise his conjugal rights because Giulia lowers a ladder made of silk down to him from her bedroom window.
The opera opens in the morning. Owing to the attentions of Giulia's cousin Lucilla, and the family servant, Germano, Dorvil has great difficulty making his escape by his usual method. Blansac is due to arrive at any minute in his quest to win Giulia's love, but she has devised a scheme to divert his amorous attentions towards her cousin, who would make an excellent wife for him.
Giulia intends to bring Lucilla and Blansac together, and persuades Germano to spy on them from a secret hiding place to see how the relationship develops. Blansac arrives with his good friend Dorvil, who desperately tries to persuade him that Giulia is not looking for a husband. Unfortunately this only has the effect of making Blansac more determined, and more confident of success. He suggests that Dorvil might care to hide and see how successfully he is able to woo Giulia. Consequently, when Giulia enters, her meeting with Blansac is being overhead by both Germano and by her husband.
Giulia decides to probe Blansac to see if he would make a good and faithful husband for her cousin. Her questioning deceives all of the men listening into thinking that she is genuinely interested in Blansac. Dorvil emerges from hiding and storms off in fury, much to Germano's surprise, who also shows himself. In the midst of all the confusion and noise Lucilla enters and Blansac suddenly notices what a fine looking young woman she is. Decidedly prettier than her cousin Giulia.
It is now late evening. Giulia is desperate for Dorvil to arrive so that she can explain the reason why she was questioning Blansac so closely about marriage. Once again the servant Germano is on hand and realizes that his mistress has an assignation. He can only assume that it is with Blansac, and decides to hide once more and see what happens. Unfortunately he is unable to keep his secret to himself and he lets Lucilla in on it. She is distressed to learn that Blansac, who she now loves dearly, is meeting Giulia and she also determines to find a hiding place in Giulia's bedroom to observe proceedings.
There is general surprise and joyful amazement when it is Dorvil who climbs into the bedroom, followed closely by his friend who is intent on using the silken ladder to further his wooing, not of Giulia, but Lucilla. Everyone scatters when Dormont, who has been woken by all the noise, enters in his nightshirt. Seeing the way that everything has turned out for the best, he quickly forgives the couples for their underhand behavior and all ends in general rejoicing.
Osborne, Charles (1994), The Bel Canto Operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini, London: Methuen; Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press. ISBN0931340713
Osborne, Richard (1986), Rossini (Dent Master Musicians series), (Ed.) Stanley Sadie. London: The Orion Publishing Group, 1986. J. M. Dent, 1993 ISBN0-460-86103-4
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La scala di seta The Silken Ladder or Die seidene Leiter is an operatic farsa comica in one act by Gioachino Rossini to a libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa It was first performed in Venice Italy at the Teatro San Moise on 9 May 1812 The overture has been frequently recorded and continues to be featured in the modern concert repertoire La scala di setaFarsa comica by Gioachino RossiniPortrait of the composerTranslationThe Silken LadderLibrettistGiuseppe Maria FoppaLanguageItalianBased onL echelle de soieby Eugene de PlanardPremiere9 May 1812 1812 05 09 Teatro San Moise VeniceFrom 1810 to 1813 the young Rossini composed four Italian farse beginning with La cambiale di matrimonio The Bill 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 seven singers always including a pair of lovers at least two comic parts and one or two other minor roles The style called for much visual comedy improvised by the players As compared to 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 Contents 1 Roles 2 Synopsis 3 Recordings 4 References 5 External linksRoles EditRole Voice type Premiere Cast 9 May 1812 Conductor Dormont tutor tenor Gaetano Dal MonteGiulia his pupil soprano Maria CantarelliLucilla Giulia s cousin soprano Carolina NagherDorvil tenor Raffaele MonelliBlansac bass Nicola TacciGermano Giulia s servant bass Nicola De GrecisSynopsis EditTime 18th Century Place Paris 1 Dormont is the teacher and guardian of the beautiful Giulia and he is determined that she will marry Blansac despite her continual rejection of his advances The fact is that Giulia is already married to Blansac s friend Dorvil who every night is able to exercise his conjugal rights because Giulia lowers a ladder made of silk down to him from her bedroom window The opera opens in the morning Owing to the attentions of Giulia s cousin Lucilla and the family servant Germano Dorvil has great difficulty making his escape by his usual method Blansac is due to arrive at any minute in his quest to win Giulia s love but she has devised a scheme to divert his amorous attentions towards her cousin who would make an excellent wife for him Giulia intends to bring Lucilla and Blansac together and persuades Germano to spy on them from a secret hiding place to see how the relationship develops Blansac arrives with his good friend Dorvil who desperately tries to persuade him that Giulia is not looking for a husband Unfortunately this only has the effect of making Blansac more determined and more confident of success He suggests that Dorvil might care to hide and see how successfully he is able to woo Giulia Consequently when Giulia enters her meeting with Blansac is being overhead by both Germano and by her husband Giulia decides to probe Blansac to see if he would make a good and faithful husband for her cousin Her questioning deceives all of the men listening into thinking that she is genuinely interested in Blansac Dorvil emerges from hiding and storms off in fury much to Germano s surprise who also shows himself In the midst of all the confusion and noise Lucilla enters and Blansac suddenly notices what a fine looking young woman she is Decidedly prettier than her cousin Giulia It is now late evening Giulia is desperate for Dorvil to arrive so that she can explain the reason why she was questioning Blansac so closely about marriage Once again the servant Germano is on hand and realizes that his mistress has an assignation He can only assume that it is with Blansac and decides to hide once more and see what happens Unfortunately he is unable to keep his secret to himself and he lets Lucilla in on it She is distressed to learn that Blansac who she now loves dearly is meeting Giulia and she also determines to find a hiding place in Giulia s bedroom to observe proceedings There is general surprise and joyful amazement when it is Dorvil who climbs into the bedroom followed closely by his friend who is intent on using the silken ladder to further his wooing not of Giulia but Lucilla Everyone scatters when Dormont who has been woken by all the noise enters in his nightshirt Seeing the way that everything has turned out for the best he quickly forgives the couples for their underhand behavior and all ends in general rejoicing Recordings EditYear Cast Dormont Giulia Lucilla Dorvil Conductor Opera House and Orchestra Label 2 1953 Piero Besma Angelica Tuccari Giuseppina Savi Giuseppe Gentile Giuseppe Morelli Orchestra and Chorus Societa del Quartetto di Roma LP PeriodCat SPL 591LP NixaCat PLP 591LP ContrepointCat MC 20 063LP Opera SocietyCat M 2071 361962 Manlio Rocchi Graziela Sciutti Margherita Rinaldi Fernandino Jacopucci Franco Ferrara Orchestra Filarmonica di RomaRecording of the soundtrack of a film from Cine Lyrica Italiana LP RCA VictorCat LM 2650LP RCA VictorCat E 5502 3LP RCACat VLS 325121983 Tulio Pane Carmen Lavani Tiziana Tramonti Ernesto Palacio Marc Andreae Orchestra della Svizzera ItalianaVideo recording of a television film VHS House of OperaCat VIDEO 1643DVD House of OperaCat DVD 1643DVD Opus Arte Faveo Cat 4023 D1988 Oslavio di Credico Luciana Serra Cecilia Bartoli William Matteuzzi Gabriele Ferro Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna CD Fonit CetraCat 102 203CD Ricordi Fonit CetraCat RFCD 2003CD Warner FonitCat 0927 43307 21990 David Griffith Luciana Serra Jane Bunnell David Kuebler Gianluigi Gelmetti Radio Sinfonie Orchester StuttgartVideo recording of a performance at the Schwetzingen Festival DVD EuroArtsCat 20549781992 Fulvio Massa Teresa Ringholz Francesca Provvisionato Ramon Vargas Marcello Viotti English Chamber Orchestra Audio CD Claves Cat 50 9219 202000 Enrico Facini Elizabeth Norberg Schulz Claudia Marchi Antonino Siragusa Alberto Zedda Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di BolognaLive recording during the Rossini Festival Pesaro 6 August 2000 CD House of OperaCat CD 7062001 Andrea Carboni Gaia Matteini Silvia Vajente Samuele Simoncini Giovan Battista Varoli I Solisti di Fiesole Recorded at performances in Il Teatro Comunale di Castiglion Fiorentino Arezzo December Audio CD BongiovanniCat GB 2316 7 22009 Daniele Zanfardino Olga Peretyatko Anna Malavasi Jose Manuel Zapata Claudio Scimone Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano e TrentoLive recording in the Teatro Rossini di Pesaro August 2009 CD premiereopera netReferences EditNotes Osborne Charles Bel Canto Operas p 18 Recordings of La scala di seta on operadis opera discography org uk Sources Harewood Earl of and Antony Peattie Eds 1997 The New Kobbe s Opera Book London Ebury Press ISBN 0 09 181410 3 Gossett Philip Brauner Patricia 2001 La scala di seta in Holden Amanda ed The New Penguin Opera Guide New York Penguin Putnam ISBN 0 14 029312 4 Osborne Charles 1994 The Bel Canto Operas of Rossini Donizetti and Bellini London Methuen Portland Oregon Amadeus Press ISBN 0931340713 Osborne Richard 1986 Rossini Dent Master Musicians series Ed Stanley Sadie London The Orion Publishing Group 1986 J M Dent 1993 ISBN 0 460 86103 4 Osborne Richard 1998 La scala di seta in Stanley Sadie Ed The New Grove Dictionary of Opera Vol Four p 198 London Macmillan Publishers Inc ISBN 0 333 73432 7 ISBN 1 56159 228 5External links Edit in Italian Libretto La scala di seta page Background information about Rossini farces Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title La scala di seta amp oldid 1150138246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,