Lo special

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Work data
Title: The pharmacist
Original title: Lo special
Shape: Dramma giocoso in three acts
Original language: Italian
Music: Joseph Haydn
Libretto : Carlo Goldoni (?)
Premiere: 1768
Place of premiere: Esterhazy Palace
Playing time: approx. 1 ¼ hours
Place and time of the action: Italy mid-18th century
people
  • Sempronio, the pharmacist ( tenor )
  • Grilletta, his ward ( soprano )
  • Mengone, assistant to Sempronios (tenor)
  • Volpino, a young bon vivant (soprano - trouser role )

Lo Speziale (German: The Pharmacist ) is an opera buffa (original name: "Dramma giocoso") in three acts and five pictures by Joseph Haydn . Every now and then the opera is performed in a one-act arrangement. Whether the libretto, as occasionally stated, was actually written by Carlo Goldoni is controversial. However, experts agree that at least the template comes from him. The details also differ with regard to the day of the premiere. It only seems certain that the work took place for the first time at Esterhazy Palace in 1768 .

action

first act

The pharmacist Sempronio has long since passed the best years of his life, and since it is well known that age does not protect against folly, he has an eye on his lovely ward Grilletta. But Sempronio is not the only one who is after the beauty, because there is also the wealthy dump Volpino and the pharmacy assistant Mengone. The latter only works in the pharmacy because of his loved ones. On the other hand, he knows very little about pharmacy.

Suddenly Volpino enters the sales room and presents Grilletta, who is currently working there, a few recipes that he has drawn up himself. In truth, he's only eager for a rendezvous with the beautiful girl. But in doing so he bites on granite; because Grilletta makes it clear to him that he is by no means her type. Volpino makes himself angry.

As soon as he's gone, Grilletta's second admirer shows up. On the one hand he has a crush on the girl, but on the other hand so shy that he cannot confess his love to her. Then Grilletta takes the initiative and asks him to finally get out of himself and ask her guardian for her hand. Mengone feels like he's in seventh heaven and takes Grilletta in his arms. When the couple kiss passionately, the old pharmacist appears and drives the two apart.

Second act

Volpino does not give up on conquering Grilletta. He has forged a new plan: he is now going to see Sempronio personally and wants to convince him that the Turkish sultan is looking for a new pharmacist and that no one else is more suitable than him, Sempronio. At first he feels flattered and agrees. But when he hears the price for it - Volpino wants Grilletta's hand as an agency fee - he has concerns. He doesn't want to miss Grilletta. He quickly sends his assistant to fetch a notary who can seal the marriage.

Sempronio is very surprised when suddenly two notaries ask for admission. The two lovers of Grillettas disguise themselves as such, because each of them is eager to sign the contract as a husband. But the old pharmacist is not that easy to be chased under the horn. He recognizes the dizziness and chases them both away.

Third act

All of his plans to conquer Grilletta have so far failed; but Volpino does not throw the gun in the towel so quickly. He and his servants disguise themselves as Turkish noblemen and go to the pharmacy. Opposite Sempronio, Volpino poses as a wealthy Pasha who intends to buy the shop. In truth, however, his plan is to kidnap the object of his desire, namely Grilletta. When Sempronio vigorously defends himself, the supposed Turks get so enraged that they begin to demolish the facility. Sempronio is powerless and can only shout out loud for help. Mengone does hear him, but demands that he give him Grilletta as his wife. In his situation, the desperate Sempronio has no choice but to comply with this request.

Mengone immediately saw through the wrong game of the "Turks". When he threatens Volpino with a lawsuit for damages, the latter prefers to run away with his men.

Mengone and Grilletta give each other the engagement kiss.

music

The music of the third act is incomplete.

Haydn composed his opera through. The individual arias and ensembles are linked by secco recitatives and accompaniments accompanied by strings. In the finale, the triangle and drum join in to suggest an oriental color scheme ( janissary music ).

Instrumentation

The orchestral line-up for the opera includes the following instruments:

Sound carrier

  • (CD) Joseph Haydn: "The Pharmacist", Berlin Classics EAN 782124171223, recording in Italian.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Georg Feder: Lo Speziale. In: Piper's Encyclopedia of Musical Theater . Volume 2: Works. Donizetti - Henze. Piper, Munich / Zurich 1987, ISBN 3-492-02412-2 , pp. 739-741.