Il Re Teodoro in Venezia
New orchestration and recitatives by Hans Werner Henze (in collaboration with David Paul Graham)
Adapted for the stage by Lorenzo Mariani
Period of composition 1991-92
Duration 150 minutes
World premiere
Workshop-Performance 16. July 1992
Montepulciano · Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte
Production Lorenzo Mariani
Stage and Costume design Pasquale Grossi
Conductor Giuseppe Mega
Comment
This is my second Paisiello comedy, after “Don Chisciotte” of 1976. This time I did not have to adapt the music for the piazza, but for small theatres. The orchestration is for smaller forces than in the original, and has been made more flexible and narrative. Lengthiness has disappeared; the recitatives are no longer secco, but are instead provided with a concertante piano part. The whole thing is conceived as an amusing entertainment; the splendour and misery of the im- postor revealed to be derided and deplored.
Hans Werner Henze
Cast
| Lisetta | soprano | Sandrino’s lover |
| 2 Donzelle | 2 soprani | |
| Belisa | mezzosoprano | a young adventuress and sister of King Teodoro |
| Gafforio | tenore | secretary and first minister of Teodoro, alias Garbolino |
| Sandrino | tenore | a vendor |
| Teodoro | baritono | King of Corsica, alias Count Alberto |
| Akmet III | baritono | dethroned grand sultan, wearing Armenian costume, alias Nicèforo |
| Taddeo | basso | inn-keeper and Lisetta’s father |
| Messer grande | basso | chief of the police of Venice |
Instrumentation
| 2 Flauti | anche Ottavini |
| 2 Oboi | 2° anche Corno inglese |
| 2 Clarinetti | 2° anche Clarinetto basso |
| 2 Fagotti | 2° anche Controfagotto |
| 2 Corni | |
| 1 Tromba | |
| 1 Trombone | |
| Timpani | |
| Percussione | Crotali (o Triangolo) Tamtam (o Piatti a due) Tamburino Tamburo militare Grancassa e piatto Glockenspiel Vibrafono [per 1] |
| Pianoforte | anche Celesta ad lib. |
| Chitarra | |
| Mandolino | |
| Fisarmonica | (o Armonio) |
| Sestetto d’archi | (2 Violini, 2 Viole, 1 Violoncello, 1 Contrabbasso) |