Are you fascinated by coincidences? If so, you will be interested to know that the day La Battaglia di Legnano debuts at the Piccolo Teatro - May 29th - is also the anniversary of the historic Battle of Legnano fought in the year 1176.
Why was it so important? Because the Communes of Northern Italy united and triumphed over the troops of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
The beloved puppets of Carlo Colla & Figli, graceful and precious, bring this Verdi opera to the stage which was already part of the company's repertoire in the 19th century but which, subsequently, no longer saw the limelight.
Today as then, the charm of melodrama touches both great and small spectators. Enchanted by small - but not too small - characters of wood and cloth, everyone can travel through time and relive history.
and La Battaglia di Legnano is THE Risorgimento opera by Giuseppe Verdi, given that it was written after the 5 days of Milan and during the first Italian War of Independence
C
Chopin
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Reply 3 by Chopin
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At the first public performance, there were only about twenty people, including four kids.
I believe they used a 1977 recording featuring Katia Ricciarelli and José Carreras, alternating narrated parts and musical pieces. During the scene transitions, they use scenes from the Verdian era, complete with Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel.
Artistic craftsmanship to be appreciated; the costumes are very rich and the character movement is well done, only at the end do you discover that of the original puppeteers, only an old-timer Colla remains... with a dozen young lads.
