Joseph Haydn (March 31, 1732 – May 31, 1809) composed The World on the Moon (Il Mondo della Luna), a three-act Italian opera. Libretto was written by Carlo Goldoni in Italian, based on his own drama. It was premiered in Esterháza, Court Theater, August 3, 1777. The setting is in Venice in the 18th century.
Il mondo della Luna was first written for the composer Baldassarre Galuppi and performed in Venice in the Carnival 1750, before it was adapted for Haydn's version of the opera for the wedding celebration of Count Nikolaus Esterházy, the younger son of Haydn's patron, Prince Nikolaus Esterházy. The overture was later used in Haydn's Symphony No.63's first movement.
Notable Arias: "Che mondo amabile" (Buonafede)
Main Roles of The World on the Moon Opera
- Ecclitico, a would-be astrologer (tenor)
- Buonafede (bass)
- Ernesto, a cavalier (contralto)
- Cecco, servant of Ernesto (tenor)
- Clarice, daughter of Buonafede (soprano)
- Flaminia, daughter of Buonafede (soprano)
- Lisetta, maid of Buonafede household (mezzo)
Plot Summary / Synopses of Haydn's Il Mondo della Luna
There is an Overture, Ballet, and an Intermezzi in Act 1 and before Act 3.
Act 1.
Scene 1. A Terrace Above Ecclitico's House
Ecclitico poses as an astrologer to trick others. His latest victim is Buonafede and tells him that he has built a telescope so strong that people can be seen on the moon. Ecclitico puts a mechanical box at the other end of his "telescope." When Buonafede looks into the telescope, he is delighted by the moon people's strange behavior. Ecclitico is after Buonafede's beautiful daughter, Clarice, while his friend Ernesto loves Buonafede's other daughter, Flaminia. Ernesto's servant Cecco loves the maid, Lisetta.
Scene 2. A Room in Buonafede's House
Clarice and Flaminia love Ecclitico and Ernesto, respectively, and are unhappy about their father's unreasonable strictness. Buonafede tells Lisetta, who pretends to love him, about Ecclitico's telescope. Ecclitico announces his plan of visiting the moon and Buonafede is excited to join Ecclitico in going to the moon. Ecclitico gives him a drink which is actually a drugged "elixir" and Buonafede falls asleep and assures Clarice and Flamiania not to worry because their father is not dead.
Act 2. The Garden of Ecclitico's House Made up to Look Like the Moon
Buonafede wakes up in Ecclitico's garden, which the astrologer has made to look like the moon. He gives Buonafede lunar clothing and takes him to meet the emperor of the moon who is Cecco in desguise. The emperor agrees to bring Buonafede's daughters and Lisetta to the moon. Ernesto is disguised as the star. Lisetta nad Buonafede are drugged and brought to the garden, where lisetta agrees to wed the emperor. Buonafede gives up the key to his money box and Clarice and Flamina marry their lunar boy friends. Eventually Buonafede finds out about the trickery and is furious.
Act 3. A Room in Ecclitico's House
The men plead with Buonafede and ask for his forgiveness. He pardons them when they return the key to his money box. His daughters, and also Lisetta, are granted generous dowries.
Sources:
Concise Guide to Opera, Penguin, London, 2005
The Da Capo Opera Manual by Nicholas Ivor Martin, 1997
