Il campiello

Il campiello (The Little Square) is an opera in three acts by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. The Italian-language libretto was by Mario Ghisalberti, after the famous comedy of the same name written for the 1756 Venetian Carnival by the great Venetian playwright, Carlo Goldoni.

Referred to as a commedia lirica, it is an ensemble opera influenced by Mozart, as well as Giuseppe Verdi's last opera Falstaff. It is concerned with the public lives of the volatile inhabitants of Venice and is sung in the local dialect (except for two Neapolitan roles).

Il campiello was first performed at La Scala, Milan on 11 February 1936 under Gino Marinuzzi and as Opera Director Marcello Govoni.

It has remained in the Italian repertory and occasionally been performed abroad. The Fujiwara Opera gave the Japanese premiere in Tokyo in July 1978. They revived it in July 2001 under Marco Titotto, including some Italian singers from the 1992 Trieste production.

Setting

Mid 18th century. Throughout the opera the setting is the same: a small square ('campiello'). In one corner there is an inn where Astolfi (baritone role), an amiable Neapolitan gentleman, spendthrift, and ladies' man, is staying. In the houses around the inn live a number of single women, all of them in search of men or husbands. Gasparina (soprano) is a comically pretentious young woman who lives with her bookish uncle Fabrizio (baritone), also a Neapolitan as it turns out. Luçieta (soprano), is a young beauty in love with a haberdasher called Anzoleto (bass). She lives with her mother Dona Cate (tenor). Luçieta's rival is another attractive girl called Gnese (soprano) who lives with her mother Dona Pasqua (tenor). Both the mothers are comic roles played by men. Gnese is in love with a boy called Zorzeto who also lives in the square with his mother Orsola (mezzo-soprano).

Gasparina appears first, then Astolfi: they greet each other with mutual interest. Luçieta enters next, impatient because Anzoleto is late. Astolfi flirts with her as well. When Anzoleto appears peddling his haberdashery, the stranger offers to buy Luçieta a present and Anzoleto becomes jealous. Gnese appears, wanting to buy some needles or thread, and calls Anzoleto over. Luçieta in turn becomes angry. Astolfi also offers to buy something for Gnese! He is delighted to find so many beautiful women all in one place! While Anzoleto is with Gnese, Astolfi renews his interest in Luçieta and encounters her mother Dona Cate. He offers Luçieta a ring which her mother deftly intercepts, while Gnese spurns his offer to pay for her purchases.

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