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Overview

Synopsis

In this hysterical farce, Gianni Schicchi opens on the Donati family mourning the passing of their patriarch, Buoso. Their tears, however, are not real until they discover that Buoso has left his immense fortune to a monastery. Frantic and greedy, they call upon Gianni Schicchi, a self-made lower class man, to help them re-write the will. In a series of hilarious hijinks, secret deals, and one ridiculous plan, the family succeeds in tricking the doctor and the notary into thinking that Schicchi is Buoso. However, when the time comes, Schicchi leaves every great part of the fortune to himself! Schicchi reminds the audience that his fraud has not only made him rich and humbled the family, but brought together two young lovers; his daughter, Lauretta, and Rinuccio.

Show Information

Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
1918
Genres
Comedy, Farce
Settings
Simple/No Set
Time & Place
1299, the palazzo of buoso donati, florence
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
None
Ideal For
College/University, Large Cast, Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Child Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Gianni Schicchi

Lead

Male

Baritone

Lauretta

Lead

Female

Soprano

Rinuccio

Lead

Male

Tenor

Zita

Supporting

Female

Contralto

Gherardo

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Betto di Signa

Supporting

Male

Bass

Simone

Supporting

Male

Bass

Marco

Supporting

Male

Baritone

La Ciesca

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Nella

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Maestro Spinelloccio

Featured

Male

Bass

Ser Amantio di Nicolao

Featured

Male

Baritone

Gherardino

Featured

Male

Treble/Boy Soprano

Pinellino

Featured

Male

Bass

Guccio

Featured

Male

Bass

Songs

Una Scena:

  • Povero Buoso (Zita, Ciesca, Nella, Gherardo, Marco, Simone, Betto, Rinuccio)
  • Avete Torto… Firenze é come un albero fiorito (Rinuccio)
  • É lui (Rinuccio, Gianni Schicchi, Lauretta, Zita, Ciesca, Nella, Gherardo, Marco, Simone, Betto)
  • O Mio Babbino Caro (Lauretta)
  • Buon giorno, Maestro Spinelloccio! (Zita, Ciesca, Nella, Rinuccio, Gherardo, Marco, Simone, Betto, Spinelloccio, Gianni Schicchi)
  • Era eguale la voce? Ah, vittoria, vittoria! (Zita, Ciesca, Nella, Rinuccio, Gherardo, Marco, Simone, Betto, Spinelloccio, Gianni Schicchi)
  • Ecco il notaro! (Gianni Schicchi, Rinuccio, Il Notaro, Pinellino, Guccio, Zita, Ciesca, Nella, Simone, Marco, Betto, Gherardo)
  • Ladro! (Zita, Ciesca, Nella, Gherardo, Marco, Simone, Betto, Gianni Schicchi)
  • Lauretta mia (Rinuccio, Lauretta, Gianni Schicchi)

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

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Scenes

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