Gli equivoci
Gli equivoci (The Misunderstandings), is an Italian opera buffa by Stephen Storace to a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, based on Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors.
Following the success of his libretto for The Marriage of Figaro, Da Ponte was asked by Storace to provide for him a libretto based on Shakespeare. Da Ponte compressed Shakespeare's plot into two acts, but retained nearly all the key elements. Gli equivoci was the second of Storace's operas to be performed at the Burgtheater.
Storace composed the opera following the success of his opera Gli sposi malcontenti in the previous year.
Storace reused some of the music of Gli equivoci in his English operas, including No Song, No Supper and The Pirates.
Performance history
The opera was first performed on 27 December 1786 in the Burgtheater, Vienna.
Roles
Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 27 December 1786[1] |
---|---|---|
Eufemio of Syracuse, son of Egeon and twin brother of Eufemio of Ephesus | tenor | Vincenzo Calvesi |
Dromio of Syracuse, servant of Eufemio of Syracuse and twin brother of Dromio of Ephesus | baritone | |
Eufemio of Ephesus, son of Egeon and twin brother of Eufemio of Syracuse | tenor | Michael Kelly |
Dromio of Ephesus, servant of Eufemio of Ephesus and twin brother of Dromio of Syracuse | baritone | |
Silinus, Duke of Ephesus | baritone | |
Egeon, a merchant from Syracuse | baritone | |
Sofronia, wife of Eufemio of Ephesus | soprano | Nancy Storace |
Sostrate, sister of Sofronia | soprano | |
Angelo, a goldsmith | baritone | |
Lesbia, wife of Dromio of Syracuse | soprano | |
Dromia, young child of Lesbia and Dromio of Syracuse | soprano | |
References
- Casaglia, Gherardo (2005)."Gli equivoci, 27 December 1786". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
External links
- Gli equivoci: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Stephen Storace: The Comedy of Errors (Gli equivoci), performance details (2000, 2001), synopsis, Bampton Classical Opera