L'ajo nell'imbarazzo

by Gaetano Donizetti (1797 - 1848).
Opera buffa in 2 acts (revised as Don Gregorio, Neapolitan farsa in 2 acts) Composed: 1824
First performed: Teatro Valle, Rome, 4 February 1824. Revised: between 1824 and summer 1826
First performed as Don Gregorio: Teatro Nuovo, Naples, 11 June 1826
Librettist: Jacopo Ferretti Libretto: based on Giovanni (Araud's comedy L'ajo nell'inbarazzo (Rome 1807).

The earliest of Donizetti's operas to circulate widely outside Italy, L'ajo gives a clear foretaste of Donizetti's comic flare but Donizetti's indebtedness to Rossinian comedy is apparent.

The puritanical Don Giulio (baritone) has brought up his two sons, Enrico and Pipetto, so strictly that they know nothing of diversions, especially women. This rigorous but limited education has been in the hands of' Don Gregorio (buffo), the tutor (ajo), but the system soon goes askew. Don Giulio's younger son, Pipetto (bass), falls in love with the only woman he has ever seen, the old housekeeper, Leonarda (mezzo-soprano), who is senile and takes him seriously. The elder son, Enrico (tenor), has secretly married a charming young neighbour, Gilda (soprano), and their union is already blessed by an infant son, Bernardino. Through Gilda's skilful manoeuvres, Don Giulio is brought to see the impracticality of his educational system and blesses the marriage of his heir.