Le donne letterate, composed by Antonio Salieri, is an Italian opera in three acts. Stylistically it is an opera buffa and is very similar to the mid-18th century librettos of Carlo Goldoni. The libretto by , dancer, poet and stage manager, brother of the composer Luigi Boccherini, was based on Molière's Les Femmes Savantes (The Learned Ladies).
This opera was the first of Salieri's to be publicly performed, as well as his first collaboration with Boccherini. This was Salieri's second complete opera.Rice, pp. 105–6Mosel, p. XXXXXX
Performance history Salieri, wrote Le donne letterate in Vienna in late 1769 and early 1770. It received its first performance during Carnival that same year at one of the Imperial theaters in Vienna. There is some dispute among scholars as to the date and place of the premiere. Rudolph Angermüller lists 10 January 1770 in the Burgtheater as the first performance. The opera was apparently revived only once, in Prague in 1773. There is no known modern performance history.
Roles RoleVoice typePremiere cast, Carnival, 1770(Conductor: Antonio Salieri)Mosel, p. 25, n. by Angermüller, quoting original printed libretto Don Baggeo, A wealthy old manbass Donna Artemia, Don Baggeo's wifesopranoClementina Baglioni Donna Elvira, Sister of Artemiasoprano Corilla, Daughter of Donna Elvira,and the niece of Donna Aremia, a pupil of Don Baggeosoprano Don Prudenzio, Brother of Don Baggeoin love with Corillatenor Don Vertiginie, An effeminate and ridiculous poet,also in love with CorillatenorGioachino Caribaldi? Don Trimetro (sp?), A Scholar and Professor,also in love with Corillabass Don Filiberto, Don Baggeo's tutorUnknown Commissioner of the Curiale, The local head of policeUnknown Choruses: Depicting servants of Don Baggeo, the local literati,friends of Don Prudenzio dressed in doctoral gowns,students of Don Trimetro dressed in the red gowns, and the local policemixed voices
Recordings
There is no known studio recording of the complete opera, or excerpts.
See also
Notes
References Rudolph Angermüller, Antonio Salieri 3 Vol. (Munich 1971–74) Volkmar Braunbehrens, Maligned Master – the Real Story of Antonio Salieri, transl. Eveline L. Kanes (New York 1992) V. Della Croce/F. Blanchetti, Il caso Salieri (Torino 1994) , Über das Leben und die Werke des Anton Salieri (Vienna 1827) (reprinted 1999, edited with notes by Rudolph Angermüller) John A. Rice, Antonio Salieri and Viennese Opera (Chicago 1998), Alexander Wheelock Thayer, Salieri: Rival of Mozart (Kansas City 1989)
External links Article on the Roman Intermezzo by John Rice, 2008