Arlecchino (Harlequin), an Italian comic opera by Ferruccio Busoni: opera plot synopsis, character description, and other Busoni opera information.

Ferruccio Busoni's Opera Arlecchino (Harlequin), comic (buffa), a Theatrical capriccio in One Act, text by the composer himself.

• Composer: Ferruccio Busoni (April 1, 1866 – July 27, 1924)
• Composed: 1914-1916
• Libretto / Text: Ferruccio Busoni, based on Italian commedia dell'arte figures and situations
• Language: Italian
• First performance: Zürich, Stadttheater, May 11, 1917. Other performances: London (BBC) 1939, Venice 1940, Glyndebourne June 25, 1954.
• Setting: Bergamo in the 18th century. Theatrical caprice.
• Opera in One Act. Five Scenes. Comic (Buffa).

Ferruccio Busoni's comic opera Arlecchino is satirical and anti-war. The abbott expresses human forbearance and tolerance. The tailor Matteo is a hopeless idealist, suspicious of nothing, Colombina – the woman. After Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera The Magic Flute which Busoni highly values, Arlecchino also parodies Richard Wagner.

The Main Characters / Roles

• Ser matteo del Sarto, tailor (baritone)
• Abbott Cospicuo (baritone)
• Dr. Bombasto (bass)
• Colombina, Arlecchino's wife (mezzo)
• Leandro, a knight (tenor)
• Arlecchino, Harlequin (Speaking Part)
• Annunziata, mute, Matteo's wife

Plot Summary / Synopsis

Prologue.

Arlecchino introduces the play.

Act 1.

Scene 1.

Matteo the tailor is in his house sewing and reading Dante's Divine Comedy, unaware that Arlecchino is sleeping with his wife, Annunziata.

Arlecchino makes his escape by jumping out the window right in front of Matteo.

While making off with Matteo's keys, Arlecchino tells the distraught husband that the barbarians are attacking the town and are at the city gate.

With Matteo's confusion, Arlecchino steals his key, and runs off.

Arlecchino also warns the abbott and the doctor of the impending danger, and they go to the tavern to hide.

Scene 2.

Arlecchino masquerades as a recruiting officer and drafts Matteo, ordering him to defend the town.

Arlecchino once again is with Annunziata, except Colombina catches them.

Colombina takes revenge by getting involved with the knight Leandro.

Scene 3.

Colombina confronts Arlecchino of his unfaithfulness but Arlecchino shrugs it off.

Arlecchino finds out about Colombina and Leandro's affair and challenges Leandro to a fight.

He stabs Leandro and hides.

Scene 4.

The abbott, the doctor and Colombina discover Leandro's body.

They put Leandro's body on a donkey cart and take him to the hospital.

Arlecchino runs off with Annunziata before Matteo returns home from a war that did not happen in the first place.

Scene 5.

Matteo resumes reading Dante's Divine Comedy.

Operas / Stage Works by Ferrucio Busoni

• Die Brautwahl (Choosing the Bride) 1912
• Arlecchino (Harlequin), 1917
• Turandot, 1917
• Doctor Faust 1925

Consulted Sources

Opera, edited by Andras Bátta, Könemann (2000)

Opera Manual by Nicholas Ivor Martin, Da Capo Press (1997)

An Illustrated Guide to Composers of Opera, by Peter Gammond, Salamander Books (1980)