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Donzelli, Alessio; Zanfardino, Cordella, Spina (Contesse). Donzelli, Alessio, Rondinone, R. Zaccaria; Zanfardino, Colaianni, Spina, Cappelluti (Duello); Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia, Carella. Text and translation. Dynamic CDS 420/1-3 (Qualiton, dist.)
With the exception of Nina, most of the operas of Giovanni Paisiello (1741-1816) are still awaiting revival. His Serva Padrona was eclipsed by Pergolesik, and as for his Barbiere di Siviglia--well, never mind. In 2002, the Marrina Franca Festival produced the two-act intermezzo Le Due Contesse (1776), along with the one-act Il Duello Comico (1774), and a live recording introduces the listener to these harmless comic operas.
The cheerful three-part sinfonia introducing Le Due Contesse (The Two Countesses) promises a fun evening in the theater; the libretto, by Giuseppe Petrosellini, presents one of the eighteenth century's most useful conventions, a maid posing as her mistress and causing various amorous misunderstandings. An aristocratic hero, lamenting excessively over his dead wife, spouts flowery phrases and even quotes Orfeo's "Che faro senza Euridice," given its premiere ...