Composer

:

Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1913

First Performance

:

Dec 4, 1913

L'Amore Medico is an opera in three acts composed by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. The opera was composed in 1913 and premiered on November 4, 1913, at the Hoftheater in Munich, Germany. The libretto was written by Mario Ghisalberti and is based on Molière's play Le Médecin malgré lui. The plot of L'Amore Medico revolves around the character of Leandro, a woodcutter who is mistaken for a doctor by a wealthy family. The family is in need of a doctor to cure their daughter, Rosaura, who has been struck mute by her father's refusal to let her marry the man she loves. Leandro, who has no medical training, is forced to pretend to be a doctor in order to win Rosaura's love and cure her of her muteness. The first act of the opera takes place in the woods, where Leandro is working as a woodcutter. He is approached by a group of men who are looking for a doctor to cure Rosaura. They mistake Leandro for a doctor and force him to come with them to the wealthy family's home. In the second act, Leandro arrives at the family's home and is introduced as the doctor. He quickly realizes that he is in over his head and has no idea how to cure Rosaura. He decides to use his charm and wit to win her love and cure her of her muteness. The third act takes place at a party thrown by the wealthy family. Leandro has successfully won Rosaura's love and cured her of her muteness. However, he is exposed as a fraud when the real doctor arrives at the party. Despite this, Rosaura's father is so grateful to Leandro for curing his daughter that he allows her to marry the man she loves. L'Amore Medico is known for its light and comedic tone, as well as its use of Italian folk music. The opera is also notable for its use of spoken dialogue, which was uncommon in Italian opera at the time. The opera is divided into three movements, each of which is marked by a change in setting and tone. Overall, L'Amore Medico is a charming and lighthearted opera that showcases Wolf-Ferrari's skill as a composer. Its use of humor and folk music make it a popular choice for opera companies around the world.

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