On Demand

The premiere of La cambiale di matrimonio on 10 November 2024 at the Teatro San Moise in Venice announced the discovery of a composer who would determine international opera events of the next two decades. The 18-year-old inexperienced Rossini understood the opportunity that was afforded him by impresario Antonio Cera, and his operatic debut was much more than just a test of talent. Although in many respects the great debt to composer Domenico Cimarosa can be found in La cambiale di matrimonio, one hears in this work all those traits which characterize the art of Rossini: strong stage instincts, psychological understanding of his characters, melodic imagination, and those typical forward driving rhythms which bring the audience into a state of great excitement.

The European merchant Tobia Mill wants to marry off his daughter Fanny for a considerable sum to his American business partner Slook, but Fanny loves the poor young Edoardo. After a while turbulence dissolves into pleasure as Slook, overwhelmed by the deep love of the two young lovers, agrees to the marriage contract, the “cambiale di matrimonio”, with his young rival. Together they all sing of the victory of love.

Because the intimate setting of chamber opera is particularly well suited to the early masterpieces of Gioachino Rossini, this first stroke of genius of the “Swan of Pesaro” speaks as a prelude to other Rossini one-act operas and foreshadows what is to come in his later works.

Rossini’s music is a resurrection of the golden age of Cimarosa – the early Rossini who so admired Stendhal. A new beginning as a fresh start - nothing could be more appropriate with regard to the new responsibility of Theater an der Wien in the Vienna Chamber Opera.