Gianni di Parigi (John of Paris)

by Gaetano Donizetti (1797 - 1848).

According to the Donizetti Society, Gianni di Parigi is the 32nd opera of a total of 67 complete operas composed by Donizetti. Of these (67), one has never been performed, one is lost and from another one only fragments are still in existence. This leaves us with 64 and so far 60 have been recorded and the last four should be recorded, hopefully, in the not so distant future.

Gianni di Parigi, described as an opera buffa in two acts, was composed in 1831. It was first performed at La Scala, Milan, on the 10th of September 1839.

The libretto by Felice Romani was based on Godard d'Aucourt de Saint-Just's libretto for Francois Adrien Boieldeu's Jean de Paris. Romani's libretto was first set to music by Francesco Morlacchi and it ran for 27 evenings at La Scala in 1818. Donizetti used this Libretto 13 years later after modifying it extensively himself in collaboration with Romani.

The plot has a rather tenuous historical background and is set in the mid-XIV century France.

A Provincial inn has been rented by the Princess of Navarre (soprano), who has been promised in marriage to the heir of the throne of France (tenor). The latter, who has never seen the Princess, wishes to get to know her and to find out whether his fiance is as good and as beautiful as reports have made her out. He disguises himself as Gianni of Paris, a rich burgher, and tries to settle into the same village inn rented by the Princess. The host Pedrigo (bass) explains that his establishment is already booked-out but Gianni's page Oliviero (mezzo), insists that an inn should be open to all comers. Exploiting the extreme greed of the innkeeper with gold coins, Oliviero occupies the apartments that had been reserved for the princess and her ladies and, with the same persuasive methods, takes care of the food and drink in the larders. Thus, arriving before his promised bride, Gianni has the opportunity of offering her hospitality and a succulent feast. The Princess drives up and is not at all displeased to find Gianni settled-in at the inn: she gracefully accepts his invitation to share his dinner. Later she reveals to Gianni that she had guessed his true identity as the Dauphin of France and is delighted to marry such an enterprising young man.