A World upon the Moon (Il mondo della luna)
Franz Joseph Haydn wrote fourteen works for the stage, nine in Italian and five in German. In fact, between 1776 and 1796 opera dominated his life and he himself regarded his operas as more significant than his instrumental music. Between 1761 and his death, he had served four successive Esterházy princes, composing for them and directing the musical performances at what was the richest court in the Austrian aristocracy. Il mondo della luna was written in 1777 and performed in the opera house at the country estate of Esterháza as part of the marriage celebrations for the son of Prince Nikolaus Esterházy. This seems to have been the only performance of the opera until some versions were staged in Germany and Austria in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. After the second World War, a revival of interest in Haydn's music led to its staging at the Holland Festival in 1959. Since then, its delightful music and comic content have made it Haydn's most popular opera and it has been performed world-wide.
SYNOPSIS
Cast, in order of singing:
Ecclitico, a bogus astronomer (tenor)
Buonafede, a wealthy old miser (bass)
Ernesto, a young nobleman (baritone)
Cecco, Ernesto's servant (tenor)
Flaminia, Buonafede's daughter (soprano)
Clarice, Buonafede's daughter (soprano)
Lisetta, maid in Buonafede's household (mezzo)
ACT ONE
Scene 1 (night on a terrace outside Ecceclito's house. Above, a full Moon and starry sky)
Ecceclito tells Buonafede that, with the aid of his powerful telescope, he can see people on the Moon. He asserts that, such is the detail he can observe, he is even able to look into houses and watch ladies preparing for bed. An interested Buonafede then looks through the telescope whilst Ecceclito's servants obligingly pass suitable images across the telescope's lens. Buonafede describes what he sees - including a beautiful woman caressing an old man and a younger man clearly about to chastise an errant wife. Left alone, Ecceclito muses on his wish to marry Clarice, Buonafede's daughter. He is joined by Ernesto, a young nobleman in love with Flaminia, Clarice's sister, and Cecco, Ernesto's servant who is in love with Lisetta, a maid in Buonafede's household. They know that Buonafede intends to find rich suitors for his daughters. Ecceclito reflects that if only they had money, all would be well ............ .
Scene 2 (a room in Buonafede's house)
Flaminia and Clarice dream of running away from their tyrannical father. Clarice threatens her father that she will seek her own husband if he does not find one for her. In an attempt to win Lisetta over, Buonafede invites her to share the wonders of the Moon that he has seen. Acting only out of interest for his money, she complies assuring him of her love for him. Ecceclito arrives and informs Buonafede that he has been invited by the Emperor of the Moon to visit him. He will be transported there through drinking a magic potion. Buonafede wishes to go too. Ecceclito pretends to drink half the potion and gives the rest to Buonafede who drinks it and falls asleep. Clarice and Lisetta believe that he is dead but console themselves with thoughts of freedom and wealth to be inherited.
ACT TWO (Ecceclito's garden decorated to resemble the surface of the Moon)
Ecceclito and Ernesto are discussing the progress of their plot whilst Buonafede continues to sleep. When he wakes he believes he is on the Moon. Ecceclito tells him he is to be joined by his daughters and Lisetta who, to comply with lunar custom relating to women, must be suitably meek in their demeanour. Cecco appears, disguised as the Emperor of the Moon, with Ernesto as the star Hesperus. When Lisetta arrives, Buonafede tries to resume his courtship of her, but Cecco invites her to become his Empress. Flaminia leaves with Hesperus (Ernesto) and Clarice with Ecceclito, whilst preparations are made for Lisetta's crowning. In the confusion that follows, Buonafede is tricked into consenting to the marriage of all three couples. He is furious when he realises he has been duped.
ACT THREE
Scene 1 (a room in Ecceclito's house)
The male conspirators have locked Buonafede in his house, only to be freed when he forgives his daughters and hands over their dowries. He eventually gives in.
Scene 2 (a starlit night, with a full Moon) Clarice and Ernesto sing of their love. Buonafede at last repents of his former authoritarian ways and the opera ends with general rejoicing and celebration.