VIVA LA MAMMA or Le Convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali (Donizetti) La Scala Milan 2009 Jessica Pratt, Vincenzo Taormina
In this video
VIVA LA MAMMA or Le Convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali by Gaetano Donizetti
Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Italy
October 2009
CAST
Jessica Pratt – Daria
Simon Bailey – Procolo
Christian Senn – Biscroma Strappaviscere
Vincenzo Taormina – Agata
Aurora Tirotta – Luigia
Leonardo Cortellazzi – Guglielmo
Asude Karayavuz – Pippetto
Chae Jun Lim – Cesare Salzapariglia
Jong Min Park – Impressario
Eugeniy Stanimirov – Stage Manager
Riccardo Massi – Ispettore
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Conductor: Marco Guidarini
Orchestra dell’Accademia del Teatro alla Scala
Coro dell’Accademia del Teatro alla Scala
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Stage Director: Antonio Albanese
Stage Designer: Leila Fteita
Costume Designer: Elisabetta Gabbioneta
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Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali (Conventions and Inconveniences of the Stage), also known as Viva la mamma and Viva la Diva, is a dramma giocoso, or opera, in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. The Italian libretto was written by Domenico Gilardoni, adapted from Antonio Simeone Sografi’s plays Le convenienze teatrali (1794) and Le inconvenienze teatrali (1800).
The title refers to the convenienze, which were the rules relating to the ranking of singers (primo, secondo, comprimario) in 19th-century Italian opera, and the number of scenes, arias etc. that they were entitled to expect.
Synopsis
Time: 18th century Place: “A provincial Italian theatre”
A regional (and mediocre) operatic troupe is rehearsing a new work—Romulus and Ersilia [a]—and faces numerous obstacles. The prima donna acts every bit the diva, refusing to rehearse. The German tenor cannot master either the lyrics or melodies. In the midst of much quarrelling, various singers threaten to walk out. The situation turns more dire with the arrival of Mamma Agata (a baritone role), the mother of the seconda donna. She insists on a solo for her daughter and even issues detailed demands on the musical arrangement of the aria. When the German tenor refuses to go on, he is replaced by the prima donna’s husband. The show eventually collapses, and rather than pay back all the investors (whose money has already been spent), the company flees the town under cover of night.
Quoted from Wikipedia