4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Unknown and Delightful Comedy!, June 18, 2000
This review is from: Donizetti - Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali (2nd version, Napoli 1831) / de Simone · Nocentini · Rubin · Andreani · Lazzaretti · Noli · Utzeri - Carminati (Audio CD)
For anyone looking beyond "Don Pasquale" and "L'Elisir D'Amore" for another comic opera by Gaetano Donizetti, you cannot go wrong with this one! This delightful one-act comedy deals with a troupe of opera singers who are rehearsing for an opera they are mounting at a small regional Italian theater. The concept is a very modern one dealing with rivalries between two prima donnas as well as the arguments among composer, librettist and impresario. However one thing that makes this opera unique is that it might be the only opera ever written to feature a character in drag! The mother of one of the sopranos is called Mamma Agata and is sung by a comic bass dressed in drag! Complete with a buffo aria as well as a hilarious duet with the soprano...this score and performance are just a gem! The singers are not world-class, but all put in a well-sung and acted performance. Especially delightful is Bruno De Simone as Mamma Agata. At one point, his performance gave me belly aches of laughter. I highly recommend this wonderful recording to anyone who loves Donizetti and the world of opera buffa!
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