(A Rare Thing, or Beauty and Honesty) is an opera by the composer Vicente Martín y Soler. It takes the form of a dramma giocoso in two acts. The libretto, by Lorenzo Da Ponte, is based on the play by Luis Vélez de Guevara. The opera was first performed at the Burgtheater, Vienna, on 17 November 1786. It was a huge success and was shown 78 times. Mozart quotes a melody from this opera, "", in the orchestral accompaniment to the trio of the finale of Don Giovanni.For a detailed discussion of this borrowing, see Daniel E. Freeman, Mozart in Prague (Minneapolis: Calumet Editions, 2021), 285–286.
Roles +RoleVoice typePremiere cast17 November 1786Isabella, Queen of SpainsopranoLuisa Laschi-MombelliPrince Don Giovanni, Isabella's sontenorVincenzo CalvesiCorrado, squiretenorMichael KellyLilla, a peasantsopranoNancy StoraceGhita, a peasantsopranoTita, betrothed to GhitabassFrancesco BenucciLubino, betrothed to LillabaritoneStefano MandiniLisargo, village mayorbassJohann HoffmannChorus of hunters, shepherds and shepherdesses
Synopsis The town mayor and the Spanish prince Don Giovanni try to seduce the virtuous Lilla, who is engaged to Lubino. The queen finds out and resolves the state of affairs so Lilla is able to marry her beloved.
Notes
External links
Details and Italian libretto