Composer

:

Federico Ricci

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1850

Average_duration

:

135:37

"Crispino e la Comare" is an Italian opera buffa in three acts composed by Federico Ricci. The libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave and Carlo Cambiagli. The opera premiered on January 28, 1850, at the Teatro Apollo in Rome. The plot of "Crispino e la Comare" revolves around the character of Crispino, a poor cobbler who is married to Annetta. Crispino is a kind-hearted man who is always willing to help others, but he is also a bit of a dreamer and often gets himself into trouble. One day, he meets a mysterious woman known as the Comare, who offers to help him become rich and successful. However, in exchange for her help, Crispino must promise to give her his first-born child. Crispino agrees to the deal, but soon realizes that he has made a terrible mistake. The Comare is actually a witch who wants to use his child for her own evil purposes. With the help of his friends and family, Crispino sets out to outsmart the Comare and save his child. The music of "Crispino e la Comare" is characterized by its lively and playful melodies, which are typical of the opera buffa genre. The opera features several memorable arias and duets, including the famous "La donna è mobile" (The woman is fickle), which was later used in Verdi's "Rigoletto." The premiere of "Crispino e la Comare" was a great success, and the opera quickly became popular throughout Italy. It was also performed in other countries, including France, Spain, and Russia. Today, "Crispino e la Comare" is still occasionally performed, although it is not as well-known as some of the other operas from the same period.

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