La vera costanza ("True Constancy"), is an operatic dramma giocoso in three acts by Pasquale Anfossi. The comédie larmoyante-influenced Italian libretto was by Francesco Puttini. The opera preceded Joseph Haydn's better known setting of the same libretto by three years.
Performance history The work was first performed on 2 January 1776 at the Teatro delle Dame, Rome. It was successful and performed widely throughout Europe during the following two decades.
Roles RoleVoice typePremiere Cast, 2 January 1776(Conductor: – )Count Errico, secret husband of RosinatenorGioacchino Costa/Filippo Tonnini Rosina, a fisherwoman abandoned by Erricosoprano castrato travestiPietro TiburzjMarquis Ernesto, friend of ErricotenorFrancesco Paolo AgrestaBaroness Irene, Count Errico's aunt who wishes to marry Ernesto soprano castrato travestiAntonio RosselliVillotto, a foolish gentleman, would-be suitor for RosinabassSerafino BlasiLisetta, baroness's maidsoprano castrato travestiDomenico BruniMasino, fisherwoman, brother of Rosinabaritone or tenorFrancesco Ciaranfi
Synopsis See synopsis of the Haydn opera.
See also Anfossi's operas L'avaro and Il curioso indiscreto Complete list of Anfossi's operas
Sources Hunter, Mary (1992), 'Vera costanza, La (i)' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London)