Composer

:

Antonio Salieri

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1790

La cifra is an opera composed by Antonio Salieri, with a libretto by Giovanni de Gamerra. The opera was composed in 1780 and premiered on January 26, 1780, at the Burgtheater in Vienna. The plot of La cifra revolves around the character of Countess Rosina, who is in love with the young and handsome Count Florville. However, her father, Don Giulio, has arranged for her to marry the wealthy but elderly Don Profondo. Count Florville, who is also in love with Rosina, comes up with a plan to win her hand in marriage. He enlists the help of his friend, the poet and musician, Filippo, to create a cipher that will allow him to communicate secretly with Rosina. The cipher is a musical code that only Rosina and Count Florville can understand. As the story unfolds, Don Profondo becomes suspicious of the relationship between Rosina and Count Florville. He hires a group of spies to intercept their messages and decipher the code. However, the spies are unsuccessful, and Rosina and Count Florville are able to continue their secret communication. In the end, Don Giulio discovers the truth about Rosina's love for Count Florville and agrees to let them marry. Don Profondo, who has realized that Rosina will never love him, graciously steps aside and allows the young couple to be together. La cifra is a three-act opera that features a number of musical movements, including arias, duets, and ensembles. The music is characterized by Salieri's signature style, which is marked by its clarity, elegance, and lyricism. The opera also features a number of comedic moments, particularly in the scenes involving Don Profondo and his bumbling spies. Overall, La cifra is a charming and lighthearted opera that showcases Salieri's talent as a composer. Its premiere was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and it remains a popular work in the operatic repertoire to this day.

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