Description

• A un marito ch’e filosofo
• Sheet music 4 page download
• Soprano aria
• From Elisa e Tullo
• By Leonardo Leo
• Link to MP3 piano accompaniment available here

 Range of aria

Historical Background

Leonardo Leo (1694-1744) was an 18th-century composer from Brindisi, Italy. He had a prolific career as a royal organist, a teacher at the famed conservatories, and a leading composer for the stage.

What set Leo apart from his contemporaries was his ability to master two very different worlds:

• The Master of Counterpoint: Leonardo Leo was considered a master of counterpoint because he was the first of the Neapolitan school to bridge the gap between rigorous, ancient polyphony and the “modern” harmonic sensibilities of the 18th century.
• The Pioneer of Comedy:  He was a key developer of Opera Buffa. He had a brilliant knack for capturing human wit and rhythmic energy, using smaller works like his intermezzi to experiment with the expressive, naturalistic vocal style that would eventually dominate European music.

By the time of his death in 1744, he had left behind a massive body of work including over 60 operas, numerous oratorios, and a legacy as one of the most influential music educators of the Baroque era.

Intermezzi

Intermezzi, such as Elisa e Tullo, are short, comic operas that are performed between the acts of the larger opera seria (serious opera)  Typically, each act of the intermezzo is performed during the breaks between the acts of the main opera. These intermezzi usually involve just two main characters—a soprano and a bass—who carry out the comedic action.

Her schemes drive the comedy. Musically, her lines are light and agile. This reflects the playful, everyday humor of the genre. The soprano provides a relatable and amusing figure. The bass is generally a the buffo character and has a large vocal range and uses patter (fast vocal passages) which show humor. These domestic stories offer a delightful contrast to the tragedy of the main opera.