Bampton Opera's La Locandiera

"Bampton Classical Opera may not be known to you, but since its foundation in 1993 the company has been gaining critical plaudits for staging productions of little-known late 18th-century' opera repertoire performed in English. This year they are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the death of Antonio Salieri with an outing for his rarely performed La locandiera The Landlady' a comedy of manners first performed in 1773 at the Burgtheater in Vienna with a libretto by Domenico Poggi."

"It is the company's fifth Salieri opera, part of a move to rehabilitate the composer's reputation which took a trashing after Peter Shaffer's 1979 play Amadeus (1979) the 1984 film version. In reality, Salieri was one of the leading composers in Vienna and throughout Europe. In 1774, he became both the court composer in Vienna and director of the court's Italian opera and his pupils included Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert and Franz Liszt."

"The narrative of Salieri's opera, taken from Goldoni's sparkling play, centres on Mirandolina, a clever and charming innkeeper who deftly handles the affections of her male guests with wit and cunning. Mirandolina is pursued by two guests at her inn, the impoverished Marquis and the wealthy Count, each believing they can win her heart, one by noble protection and the other through extravagant gifts. However, she is unimpressed and repeatedly deflates their illusions of success."

Bampton Classical Opera, founded in 1993, specializes in staging little-known late 18th-century operas in English and has earned critical praise. The company marks the 200th anniversary of Antonio Salieri's death by mounting his rarely performed La locandiera, a 1773 comedy of manners with a libretto by Domenico Poggi. The production forms part of efforts to rehabilitate Salieri's reputation after negative popular portrayals. Salieri served as Vienna's court composer and director of Italian opera from 1774, teaching pupils such as Beethoven, Schubert and Liszt. La locandiera centers on Mirandolina, an innkeeper who outwits suitors, including a misogynistic baron targeted for a lesson.

Read at www.london-unattached.com