Robert Hollingworth looks at Orazio Vecchi's madrigal comedy L'Amfiparnaso, which was premiered in Modena in in 1594. It's a particular form of musical theatre that flourished briefly in Italy, just before the dawn of opera, combining music and commedia dell'arte, the down-to-earth improvised street comedy of the time.
This may be a repeat...I'm not sure...but the fact that it's available on i-Player suggests that it is. Robert H. is always worth listening to, and this pre-opera period in Italy is especially fascinating.
This may be a repeat...I'm not sure...but the fact that it's available on i-Player suggests that it is. Robert H. is always worth listening to, and this pre-opera period in Italy is especially fascinating.