Boccaccio, Franz von Suppé

Title Boccaccio
English Title
Composer Franz von Suppé
Librettists F. Zell and Richard Genée
Language German, Dutch translation available
Genre Light opera in 3 acts
First performance 1 February 1879, Carl-Theater, Vienna
Time of action Florence, 14th century
Place of action
  1. Square before the church of Santa Maria Novella
  2. In front of the houses of Lotteringhi and Lambertuccio
  3. In the palace of the Duke of Florence
Main parts
  • Giovanni Boccaccio, (mezzo)soprano
  • Fiametta, his beloved, soprano
  • Prince Pietro, tenor
  • Leonetto, 2nd tenor
  • Lambertuccio, grower of olives, 2nd tenor
  • Peronella, his wife, comic contralto
  • Lotteringhi, cooper, comic tenor
  • Isabella, his wife, soprano
  • Scalza, barber, baritone
  • Beatrice, his wife, soprano
Prominence of chorus Chorus very prominent
Orchestra 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani/percussion, strings
Special demands

The title-rôle is written for soprano, the students must be sung by women as well. There is a separate (small) chorus of beggars. In the second act the scenery must divide the stage in two, so that persons in one part are unaware of what is going on in the other part.

Full score and orchestral parts Available
Level Rather taxing work, especially for the (many) soloists
Length Three acts. Total duration: 2½ hours
Music Beautifully written work. Contains a number of well-known tunes.
Story

The libretto combines a number of tales from Boccaccio’s Decameron. Comic highlights: the bewitched tree and the lover in the wine-barrel. In the end Boccaccio is united to his beloved Fiametta.

Costumes Town’s people, courtiers. Medieval.
Note
Pictures
Link Wikipedia

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Tags: Suppe | Zell | Knoppers