Il Giocatore was possibly the most popular of this genre; it was performed more often than any other group of intermezzi.
It is the second of three performances in the Teatro Cesare Caporali in Panicale as part of this year's Pan Opera Festival. This beautiful little theatre has only thirty two seats on the floor and three layers up, two of boxes that always make me feel like the old codgers in The Muppets. However, sitting there surrounded by velvet and gilt is enchanting in itself.
Earlier in the year we participated in a crowd funding event for the Pan Opera and Téathron Musikè and as a result, today we were able to go to a rehearsal for tomorrow's show.
The first part was a typical rehearsal with re-runs where needed. There was a strings orchestra of six, two operatic singers and two marionette operators.
After the orchestra had a short break they resumed with a dress rehearsal with props. The most obvious being the two puppets.
The storyline surrounds an inveterate gambler and his moralistic wife, their quarrels, promises, reconciliations and near divorce. With an unexpected turn of events the couple is finally reconciled.
The use of the marionettes is cleverly done with the puppets representing the alter egos of the baritone and the mezzosoprano protagonists.
Having always been a back stage person I especially like watching the costuming, the props, the scenery and how it all comes together. Today's performance was a good opportunity for this.
Once again we found that our ever increasing vocabulary and a little research on the story line helped us to comprehend enough of the plot to thoroughly enjoy the performance.
Buon divertimento!
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