OPERA SEARCH
Der kleine Haydn
(Il piccolo Haydn / Little Haydn) (1893)Libretto by Antonio Cipollini; German version by Otto Eisenschitz (I,G)
S,M,A,T,B
2(II=picc).2.2.2-4.4.3.1-timp.perc-harp-strings
Abbreviations (PDF)
B&B
Teatro Sociale, Como
Company: Unknown
| JOSEPH HAYDN, 15 | Mezzo Soprano |
| MARIANNE, his mother, a peasant's wife, 40 | Alto |
| NICOLO PORPORA, master of music, 60 | Tenor |
| ANZOLETTA, his pupil, 22 | Soprano |
| COUNT KAUNITZ, minister of state and director of the court theatres, 65 | Bass |
Vienna during the realm of Maria Theresa
The young Haydn is Porpora’s manservant. The composer is currently working on an opera but has run short of ideas. Haydn, of whose musicality Porpora is unaware, has secretly looked at the score and completed the missing scenes. Suddenly Porpora catches Haydn at the piano and throws him out of the house, suspecting him of being a music-spy. Count Kanitz arrives to collect the opera he had commissioned. When Porpora asks him for grace, Kanitz refuses. Then Haydn appears and admits that he has completed the opera in secret. All are enthusiastic about the music and celebrate Haydn. Porpora gives him a laurel wreath and abandons music.
Comic, Poetic