Gli equivoci (The Misunderstandings), is an Italian opera buffa by Stephen Storace to a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, based on Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors.
Following the success of his libretto for The Marriage of Figaro, Da Ponte was asked by Storace to provide for him a libretto based on Shakespeare. Da Ponte compressed Shakespeare's plot into two acts, but retained nearly all the key elements. Gli equivoci was the second of Storace's operas to be performed at the Burgtheater.
Storace composed the opera following the success of his opera Gli sposi malcontenti in the previous year.
Storace reused some of the music of Gli equivoci in his English operas, including No Song, No Supper and The Pirates.
Performance history The opera was first performed on 27 December 1786 in the Burgtheater, Vienna.
Roles +RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 27 December 1786Eufemio of Syracuse, son of Egeon and twin brother of Eufemio of EphesustenorVincenzo CalvesiDromio of Syracuse, servant of Eufemio of Syracuse and twin brother of Dromio of EphesusbaritoneEufemio of Ephesus, son of Egeon and twin brother of Eufemio of SyracusetenorMichael KellyDromio of Ephesus, servant of Eufemio of Ephesus and twin brother of Dromio of SyracusebaritoneSilinus, Duke of EphesusbaritoneEgeon, a merchant from SyracusebaritoneSofronia, wife of Eufemio of EphesussopranoNancy StoraceSostrate, sister of SofroniasopranoAngelo, a goldsmithbaritoneLesbia, wife of Dromio of SyracusesopranoDromia, young child of Lesbia and Dromio of Syracusesoprano
References
External links
Stephen Storace: The Comedy of Errors (Gli equivoci), performance details (2000, 2001), synopsis, Bampton Classical Opera