L'inganno felice

"L'inganno felice" ("The Fortunate Deception") is an opera in one act by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa. Foppa reworked the libretto which Giuseppe Palomba had written for an opera of the same name by Paisiello (1798).

It was first performed at the Teatro San Moisè, Venice on January 8 1812 and was an instant success. By the end of the decade it had been heard in theatres throughout Italy as well as in Paris and London. Following this triumph, Rossini was commissioned to write three more operas by the manager of the Teatro San Moisè.

Genre of the work

Rossini called "L'inganno felice" a farsa though as Richard Osborne in the New Grove Dictionary of Opera explains, " "Its designation as a farsa is misleading in the light of its semiseria status as a romantic melodrama with buffo elements." " The work has much in common with French Revolutionary operas such as Cherubini's "Les deux journées".

Roles

ynopsis

Background: The villainous Ormondo was in love with Isabella, who was happily married to Duke Bertrando. When she rejected his advances, Ormondo spread vicious rumours about her reputation and bribed Batone into casting her adrift in a boat on the sea. But she was rescued by a local miner, Tarabotto, who then disguised her as his niece, Nisa.

Action: The opera opens ten years ten years later. Duke Bertrando is due to visit the mines. Isabella, who is still in love with her husband, finally reveals her true identity to Tarabotto who promises to help her. The duke arrives with Ormondo and Batone. The duke is still in love with his wife even though he believes the rumours that she was unfaithful to him. Batone catches sight of "Nisa" and realises she is Isabella in disguise. He plots with Ormondo to abduct her that night but Tarabotto overhears their plan. The two villains are unmasked before they can kidnap Isabella, whose true story is revealed when she shows everyone her duchess' clothes and a portrait of the duke she has kept with her. Bertrando and Isabella are reunited.

elected recordings

*"L'inganno felice" Annick Massis, Raúl Giménez, Rodney Gilfry, Pietro Spagnoli, Lorenzo Regazzo, Le Concert des Tuileries, conducted by Marc Minkowski (Erato, 1997)

ources

*Osborne, Richard: "Inganno felice, L"' in 'The New Grove Dictionary of Opera', ed. Stanley Sadie (London, 1992) ISBN 0-333-73432-7
*"The Viking Opera Guide" ed. Holden (1993)
*Booklet notes to the Minkowski recording