Il Mondo della Luna - Haydn’s ‘World of the Moon’
September 25th 2006 14:35
I recently had the pleasure to attend a production by the Sydney Conservatorium of Joseph Haydn’s ‘Il Mondo della Luna’, translated as ‘The World of the Moon’, a Dramma giocoso(humorous drama) in three acts. This is almost definitely the first reference to lunar travel you will find in any opera: it was written and possibly first performed in Esterhaza in 1777, with Carlo Goldoni(1707-1793) as librettist.
This particular production was an appropriation set in 1960s outback Australia in anticipation leading up to the moon landing, and was directed by Christine Douglas. I found it very entertaining and humorous, and the adaptation to a more contemporary setting gave it the feel of a comedic musical. For a conservatorium production, it was stylish and had a great deal of character.
Here is a rough synopsis:
Act 1
Scene 1:
In an outback tracking station in the early evening, we are introduced to the astronomer Ecclitico and his four assistants. Ecclitico wishes to marry Clarice, elder daughter of the gullible and overprotective local mayor Buonafede. The local police seargent, Ernesto wishes to marry Buonafede’s other daughter Flaminia, and Ernesto’s lower ranked sidekick Cecco wishes to marry Buonafede’s secretary Lisetta. Although these three partnerings are of mutual feelings, Buonafede doesn’t let his daughters marry Ernesto and Ecclitico, and wishes to keep Lisetta to himself for purposes of his own lechery.
Ecclitico hatches a plan for himself, Cecco, and Ernesto to all marry who they love and to pick up some of Buonafede’s money. He convinces Buonafede that he has a telescope that can see to the inside of the moon, and lets Buonafede watch a manufactured glimpse of life on the ‘moon’, where women appear to be compliant and there is good natured mischief for all. Buonafede is absolutely taken with this.
Scene 2:
In Buonafede’s house, Flaminia and Clarice sit outside on the verandah against their father’s wishes to discuss their desires for marriage(with an impressive aria sung by Flaminia). When Buonafede comes home, Flaminia flees, by Clarice tries to argue with him to let his daughters marry(unsuccessfully). Lisetta enters, and gives Buonafede a large heap of paperwork and puts up with his many advances.
Ecclitico arrives at Buonafede’s house to give his goodbyes - he gives the story that he has been summoned by the emperor of the moon to live there. In a series of increasingly implausible facts that Buonafede swallows, Ecclitico states that he has a vial of a liquid that will allow him to float to the moon. Buonafede naturally begs to partake of this. While only pretending to drink, Ecclitico gives Buonafede a full dose of the liquid(never actually stated, but presumed to be some kind of opium) which sends him into a relaxed compliant state followed by sleep. Flaminia and Clarice enter, and thinking that their father is dying, show momentary woe, but quickly have their spirits changed when Ecclitico finds a will revealing large cash payments left to them. They are informed about Ecclitico’s dupery somewhere between act 1 and 2, and play along.
Act 2:
With the assistance of Ernesto and Cecco, along with Ecclitico’s colleagues, a paddock is converted into a moonscape. After meeting the moonstar ‘Hesperus’(Ernesto) and the emperor of the moon(Cecco), Buonafede is kept from walking away to discover the plot by a series of echoes by Ecclitico’s colleagues. At the wishes of Buonafede and the emperor, Buonafede’s daughters are transported to ‘the moon’ and Lisetta appears blindfolded, kidnapped by Ecclitico(and unaware of the situation). Possibly due to her confusion, Lisetta briefly relents to the advances of Buonafede, but to Buonafede’s dismay, she is offered the throne by the Emperor(Cecco). After considering the plausibility of the situation, decides to take the offer, trusting the face of Cecco as her lover. Buonafede’s daughters arrive, and are to marry their respective lovers on the moon. Buonafede shows protest at his daughter’s marriages, but is berated by the emperor for his practice of sub lunar customs and so he relents. Trying to get the most out of the situation, Ecclitico, Ernesto and Cecco try and get some money from Buonafede, but eventually the ruse is revealed and he chases everyone away in a rage.
Act 3:
The furious Buonafede is taken back to the observatory. Upon witnessing the remorsefulness of his daughters, and everyone’s happiness with their loves, he realises the error of his ways as a father, and forgives everyone. Ecclitico and Clarice express their feelings in a moving love duet, before everyone gathers for a party with the approaching dawn, concluding the opera.
This opera really is a charming work and I encourage anyone to see it if they get a chance, due to its light and simple nature it also serves as a great introduction to the world of opera.
This particular production was an appropriation set in 1960s outback Australia in anticipation leading up to the moon landing, and was directed by Christine Douglas. I found it very entertaining and humorous, and the adaptation to a more contemporary setting gave it the feel of a comedic musical. For a conservatorium production, it was stylish and had a great deal of character.
Here is a rough synopsis:
Act 1
Scene 1:
In an outback tracking station in the early evening, we are introduced to the astronomer Ecclitico and his four assistants. Ecclitico wishes to marry Clarice, elder daughter of the gullible and overprotective local mayor Buonafede. The local police seargent, Ernesto wishes to marry Buonafede’s other daughter Flaminia, and Ernesto’s lower ranked sidekick Cecco wishes to marry Buonafede’s secretary Lisetta. Although these three partnerings are of mutual feelings, Buonafede doesn’t let his daughters marry Ernesto and Ecclitico, and wishes to keep Lisetta to himself for purposes of his own lechery.
Haydn's Il Mondo della Luna is rare in it's dealing with some science fiction material in 1777.
Scene 2:
In Buonafede’s house, Flaminia and Clarice sit outside on the verandah against their father’s wishes to discuss their desires for marriage(with an impressive aria sung by Flaminia). When Buonafede comes home, Flaminia flees, by Clarice tries to argue with him to let his daughters marry(unsuccessfully). Lisetta enters, and gives Buonafede a large heap of paperwork and puts up with his many advances.
Ecclitico arrives at Buonafede’s house to give his goodbyes - he gives the story that he has been summoned by the emperor of the moon to live there. In a series of increasingly implausible facts that Buonafede swallows, Ecclitico states that he has a vial of a liquid that will allow him to float to the moon. Buonafede naturally begs to partake of this. While only pretending to drink, Ecclitico gives Buonafede a full dose of the liquid(never actually stated, but presumed to be some kind of opium) which sends him into a relaxed compliant state followed by sleep. Flaminia and Clarice enter, and thinking that their father is dying, show momentary woe, but quickly have their spirits changed when Ecclitico finds a will revealing large cash payments left to them. They are informed about Ecclitico’s dupery somewhere between act 1 and 2, and play along.
Act 2:
With the assistance of Ernesto and Cecco, along with Ecclitico’s colleagues, a paddock is converted into a moonscape. After meeting the moonstar ‘Hesperus’(Ernesto) and the emperor of the moon(Cecco), Buonafede is kept from walking away to discover the plot by a series of echoes by Ecclitico’s colleagues. At the wishes of Buonafede and the emperor, Buonafede’s daughters are transported to ‘the moon’ and Lisetta appears blindfolded, kidnapped by Ecclitico(and unaware of the situation). Possibly due to her confusion, Lisetta briefly relents to the advances of Buonafede, but to Buonafede’s dismay, she is offered the throne by the Emperor(Cecco). After considering the plausibility of the situation, decides to take the offer, trusting the face of Cecco as her lover. Buonafede’s daughters arrive, and are to marry their respective lovers on the moon. Buonafede shows protest at his daughter’s marriages, but is berated by the emperor for his practice of sub lunar customs and so he relents. Trying to get the most out of the situation, Ecclitico, Ernesto and Cecco try and get some money from Buonafede, but eventually the ruse is revealed and he chases everyone away in a rage.
Act 3:
The furious Buonafede is taken back to the observatory. Upon witnessing the remorsefulness of his daughters, and everyone’s happiness with their loves, he realises the error of his ways as a father, and forgives everyone. Ecclitico and Clarice express their feelings in a moving love duet, before everyone gathers for a party with the approaching dawn, concluding the opera.
This opera really is a charming work and I encourage anyone to see it if they get a chance, due to its light and simple nature it also serves as a great introduction to the world of opera.
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Comment by Peter