# Il signor Bruschino

Il signor Bruschino, ossia Il figlio per azzardo (Signor Bruschino, or The Accidental Son) is a one act operatic farce (farsa giocosa per musica) by Gioachino Rossini to a libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa, based upon the 1809 play Le fils par hasard, ou ruse et folie by René de Chazet and Maurice Ourry. The opera was first performed in Venice at the Teatro San Moisè on 27 January 1813.
Between 1810 and 1813, the young Rossini composed five pieces for the Teatro San Moisè, beginning with La cambiale di matrimonio (Bill of Exchange of Marriage), his first opera, and ending with Il signor Bruschino. These farse were short pieces, popular in Venice at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. They were intimate, with a cast of five to eight singers, always including a pair of lovers, here Sofia and Florville, at least two comic parts, here Bruschino senior, Gaudenzio and Filiberto, and one or more minor roles, here Marianna, Bruschino junior and a policeman. The style called for much visual comedy improvised by the players, and often a compulsive linguistic ‘tic’. Here, Bruschino senior often repeats the phrase "Oh, it’s so hot!". As compared with many genres of opera, acting and comedic talent is more important relative to the required singing ability. Rossini's farces also have a significant sentimental element. Overall, it has been described as "a vivacious and fast-moving musical comedy, whose graceful score reveals traces still of Cimarosa and even Mozart."
Il signor Bruschino is forward-looking in its use of new musical effects. For example, in the overture, the second violins are instructed to tap their bows on their music stands. This lighthearted, energetic overture is one of several by Rossini to have gained considerable importance in the modern concert repertoire.

## Performance history

The opera was not performed in North America or in Britain until the 20th century. Its New York premiere took place at the Metropolitan Opera on 9 December 1932, and it was first seen in England (in an amateur staging by the Kent Opera Group) on 14 July 1960. Other performances have taken place in Italy and elsewhere in Europe, in particular, stagings in Paris and Macerata in 1992.

## Roles

| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 27 January 1813 (Conductor: - ) |
| Gaudenzio, a tutor and Sofia's guardian | bass | Nicola De Grecis |
| Sofia | soprano | Teodolinda Pontiggia |
| Bruschino senior | bass | Luigi Raffanelli |
| Bruschino junior | tenor | Gaetano Dal Monte |
| Florville, Sofia's lover | tenor | Tommaso Berti |
| Filiberto, an innkeeper | bass | Nicola Tacci |
| Marianna, a maidservant | soprano | Carolina Nagher |
| A Police Commissioner | tenor | Gaetano Dal Monte |
| Servants | silent | |

## Synopsis

    Time: 18th Century
    Place: Gaudenzio's castle in France.
Sofia and Florville are in love, but Sofia's guardian, Gaudenzio, opposes the match. Florville's father and Gaudenzio are old enemies. Florville's father dies, removing one barrier, but Gaudenzio has already agreed to wed Sofia to the son of his old friend, Signor Bruschino senior. Sofia has never met her fiancé, Bruschino junior, as they were betrothed by correspondence. On his way to meet Sofia, young Bruschino stops at a tavern, runs up an impressive bill and is detained when he is unable to pay. Seizing the opportunity, Florville pretends to be Bruschino junior so that he can marry Sofia. Complications arise when Bruschino senior arrives at Gaudenzio's house. Fortunately, however, he is eventually forced to accept Florville as his own son. In a playful trio, Florville (as Bruschino junior) begs his "father" for forgiveness, while Gaudenzio upbraids old Bruschino for his lack of fatherly sympathy.

## Recordings

| Year | Cast: Gaudenzio, Sofia, Bruschino padre, Marianna, Florville | Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra | Label |
| 1991 | Samuel Ramey, Kathleen Battle, Claudio Desderi, Jennifer Larmore, Frank Lopardo | Ion Marin, English Chamber Orchestra (Recorded in the Henry Wood Hall, London, May) | Audio CD: DG Cat: 477 5668 & 000875102 |
| 1988 | Bruno Praticò, Patrizia Orciani, Natale de Carolis, Katia Lytting, Luca Canonici | Marcello Viotti, Orchestra dei Filarmonici di Torino | Audio CD: Claves CD 50-8904/05 (reissued on Brilliant Classics) |