Gli equivoci

Stephen Storace

Gli equivoci (The Misunderstandings), is an Italian opera buffa by Stephen Storace to a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, based on Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors.

Following the success of his libretto for The Marriage of Figaro, Da Ponte was asked by Storace to provide for him a libretto based on Shakespeare. Da Ponte compressed Shakespeare's plot into two acts, but retained nearly all the key elements. Gli equivoci was the second of Storace's operas to be performed at the Burgtheater.

Storace composed the opera following the success of his opera Gli sposi malcontenti in the previous year.

Storace reused some of the music of Gli equivoci in his English operas, including No Song, No Supper and The Pirates.

Performance history

The opera was first performed on 27 December 1786 in the Burgtheater, Vienna.

Roles

Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 27 December 1786[1]
Eufemio of Syracuse, son of Egeon and twin brother of Eufemio of Ephesus tenor Vincenzo Calvesi
Dromio of Syracuse, servant of Eufemio of Syracuse and twin brother of Dromio of Ephesus baritone
Eufemio of Ephesus, son of Egeon and twin brother of Eufemio of Syracuse tenor Michael Kelly
Dromio of Ephesus, servant of Eufemio of Ephesus and twin brother of Dromio of Syracuse baritone
Silinus, Duke of Ephesus baritone
Egeon, a merchant from Syracuse baritone
Sofronia, wife of Eufemio of Ephesus soprano Nancy Storace
Sostrate, sister of Sofronia soprano
Angelo, a goldsmith baritone
Lesbia, wife of Dromio of Syracuse soprano
Dromia, young child of Lesbia and Dromio of Syracuse soprano

References

  1. ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Gli equivoci, 27 December 1786". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).