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Il Mondo della Luna
Il mondo della luna (1777) is a sparkling comic opera by Joseph Haydn, with a witty libretto based on Carlo Goldoni’s play. In this award-winning production from the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, co-produced with Teatro Arriaga in Bilbao, visionary director Emilio Sagi crafts a whimsical journey that earned Best New Opera Production at the 2014 Teatro Campoamor Lyric Awards. Set in a world where imagination and deception collide, the story follows the gullible Buonafede, an old man tricked into believing he’s been transported to the moon. Goldoni’s sharp satire on human credulity meets Haydn’s elegant, playful score, full of creative flourishes and refined humor. Known as the father of the symphony and string quartet, Haydn’s operatic genius shines in this delightful fable, long overshadowed by his contemporaries but brought to vivid life in a production brimming with charm, humor, and lunar magic. Prepare for a journey where the moon feels closer than ever!
Insights
Plot Summary
This opera buffa, based on a libretto by Carlo Goldoni and music by Franz Joseph Haydn, tells the story of the eccentric nobleman Don Bucefalo who pretends to have the ability to travel to the moon to impress his guests and potentially arrange a marriage for his ward. His schemes are eventually revealed, leading to humorous chaos and romantic resolutions.
Critical Reception
Rolando Villazón's staging of Haydn's 'Il Mondo della Luna' was generally well-received for its playful direction and energetic performances. Critics often praised the visual inventiveness and the charming interpretation of the opera's comedic elements, though some noted that the music, while skillfully performed, might not reach the dramatic heights of later operatic works.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its delightful and witty directorial concept.
Commended for strong vocal performances and a vibrant comedic spirit.
Seen as a charming and entertaining production of a lesser-known Haydn opera.
Google audience: Audience reception for this production, where available, often highlighted the engaging stage direction and the strong ensemble cast's ability to bring out the humor of the story.
Fun Fact
The opera's plot revolves around a central deception of a fake lunar journey, a concept that was quite fantastical for its time and reflects the Enlightenment-era fascination with scientific discovery and the unknown.
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