L’equivoco stravagante (A Bizarre Deception)

Opera in two acts by Gioachino Rossini

Synopsis

ACT 1

The action unfolds in a place and at a time unspecified, outside and inside the house of Gamberotto, a peasant who has made money. and of his daughter Ernestina. who, in accordance with the new family situation, passes the time putting herself in the position of the more noble literary characters, whose language and attitudes she foolishly imitates. She does not yet know that she is loved by Ermanno, a penniless young man who spends his time lingering around her house, hoping to meet her, with the help of Frontino and Rosalia, the crafty servants of Gamberotto. The agreement between the three is interrupted by a noisy group of peasants, followed by the master of the house, in one of his usual exhibitions of arrogance. Frontino takes the opportunity of introducing Ermanno as Ernestina's new tutor: Gamberotto welcomes him willingly, not so much for his knowledge but for his fine appearance which will not fail to please his daughter.

The first step has therefore been taken to bring about the meeting of the two young people: now Buralicchio, Ernestina's intended husband, as rich as he is conceited. must be removed from the scene. Presenting himself as an irresistible Don Juan, all too confident, he meets his future father in law vying with him in ceremonial and affectation.

Meanwhile, Ernestina, bored in the house library, admits to her literary friends that she has an incomprehensible emptiness within herself: perhaps it is due to the lack of love and they busy themselves searching her books for the most suitable solution for her hypochondria. The unexpected entrance of Ermanno and Buralicchio, introduced at the same time by Gamberotto, immediately raises the spirits of the girl, who feels herself attracted by both: she will keep her body for her betrothed. her spirit for her tutor. But Ermanno does not know how to restrain himself from profiting from his unhoped for proximity and ardently kisses the girl’s hand enraging her betrothed, who is with difficulty held at bay by Gamberotto.

The action comes to a brief pause for the conversation in which the two servants comment on the real possibility of Ermanno's success and on the impertinent nature of love. Finally the young man manages to find himself alone together with the girl who, still immersed in her literary fantasies, has some little difficulty in understanding his real feelings and remains deeply disturbed by them. Gamberotto takes the situation in hand again, rebuking Buralicchio for his unjustified jealousy and Ernestina for the little attention she has paid her betrothed: the official courtship starts, therefore, in his presence, beginning by way of punishment at the foot, then progressively moving higher. Cut to the quick, Ermanno tries to block these events by staging suicide, to which Ernestina reacts with the greatest apprehension: the consequent anger of Gamberotto and Buralicchio, who chase the tutor from the house, persuades them all in view of the disturbance, to seek the intervention of the forces of law and order.

ACT 2

When the curtain rises again, Frontino discusses what has happened with the country people of the district and reveals to Rosalia that he is ready to put into action a new plan: a bizarre deception to help Ermanno. Through a feigned letter that he cunningly allows to fall into the hands of Buralicchio. the wily servant makes him believe that Ernestina is actually Ernesto, the son that Gamberotto had had castrated in adolescence so that he might have a profitable career as a singer and that now, enriched by other means, he keep, hidden in woman's clothing to avoid military service. Dismayed. Buralicchio meets face to face with Ernestina, now finally disposed to accept the engagement. And remains horrified by the masculine traits that he now seems to see in the girl. Determined to take revenge for the insult, he goes to the army commandant to denounce the presumed deserter.

Meanwhile Ermanno complains to Gamberotto about the rudeness with which he was chased out of the house but is reassured that once the marriage has been concluded he will be able to return peacefully to his position as tutor. Alone, Ermanno can only give vent to all his despair. Seeing him go, Ernestina orders Rosalia to bring him back to her presence: the conversation that starts in funereal tones becomes ever more delicate and intimate; soon interrupted by Gamberotto, and Buralicchio, the former outraged at the insults to his daughter, the other now disposed to drop out of the running. in the expectation of imminent revenge. The army soldiers in fact arrive without delay and arrest Ernestina without offering any, explanation. They go, and Frontino laments with Rosalia that the scheme he has organised has ended by further harming Ermanno and Ernestina, while Gamberotto abuses Buralicchio for the indifference with which he has received the outrage against his future wife.

Ernestina is in prison, saddened by the absence of her books and by her continued ignorance of the reason for her arrest. She is joined by Ermanno, with a soldier's uniform under his arm, to help the girl escape in disguise. A little later we find her finally free, hidden amid a squad of soldiers, whom with her renewed exuberance, she does not fail to exhort to feats of glory.

The epilogue is set in Gamberotto's house where Frontino reproaches Buralicchio as an informer and advises him to make his escape as quickly as he can, to avoid the anger of Gamberotto. who is looking for him. Ernestina returns, together with her rescuer, promptly mocked by Buralicchio for his ignorance of the facts. The threatening entrance of the master of the house, supported by peasants armed with sticks, persuades the accused to reveal everything. Far from being guilty, he himself is the true victim and would certainly have been taken in by this castrated son business if Frontino had not warned him in time. There is mingled hilarity and consternation; Frontino defends himself, explaining that he had acted with the best intentions and Ermanno too finally openly declares to Gamberotto his love for Ernestina. Their enterprise is forgiven. Buralicchio resigns himself to the search for another wife and all ends in happiness and contentment.

Return to This Week

Return to Newsletter

Gioacchino Rossini
1792 - 1868