Description

• L’esser geloso e misero
• 4 page sheet music download
• Baritone/bass aria
  
• From Il geloso schenito
  
• By Pietro Chiarini

Range of Aria

Historical Background

Pietro Chiarini (1717?-1765?) was born in Brescia, Italy and enjoyed some success throughout northern Italy during his lifetime. Chiarini focused his career on opera seria, although he also wrote a few intermezzi and instrumental works. It was thought for many years that the intermezzo “Il geloso schernito” was written by Pergolesi, thus gaining for the work notoriety it otherwise would not have had had it not been one of the many works so attributed. “Il geloso schernito,” also known as “Dorina e Masacco,” was originally given in Venice in 1746 paired (if at all) with an unknown opera seria.

Intermezzi

Intermezzi, such as “L’esser geloso e misero” 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 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.

In the aria, “L’esser geloso e misero,” the bass sings of the misery he feels for being jealous.