Il trionfo dell'onore explained

Il trionfo dell'onore (The Triumph of Honour) is an operatic 'commedia' in three acts by the Italian composer Alessandro Scarlatti, with a libretto by . It was first performed at the Teatro dei Fiorentini, Naples, on 26 November 1718. It is Scarlatti's only known comic opera.

Roles

!Role!Voice type[1] !Premiere cast
Riccardo Albenorisoprano (en travesti) Caterina Testi
Leonora DorinicontraltoPetronilla Micheli
Erminiosoprano castratoBiagio Stabile
Doralice RosettisopranoCostanza Posterla
Flaminio Castravacca
Cornelia Buffaccitenor (en travesti)Simone De Falco
Rosina CarucciacontraltoMarianna Monti
Capitan Rodimarte BombardabassGiacomo D'Ambrosio

Synopsis

Act 1
  • Ricardo Albenori, a dissolute young man, and his friend, the soldier Rodimarte Bombarda, arrive in Pisa, having escaped from Lucca where they had run into trouble with the law. In Lucca, Riccardo had also seduced Leonora Dorini before rejecting her in favour of Doralice Rossetti. Leonora has followed him and takes refuge with Cornelia Buffacci, Doralice's aunt. Doralice, too, is still pursuing Riccardo, who manages to convince her he loves her.
    Act 2
  • Erminio, Leonora's brother who is in love with Doralice, arrives in Pisa. Leonora tells him how Riccardo, Erminio's friend, seduced her. He vows to avenge her. Leonora and Doralice quarrel over Riccardo.
    Act 3
  • Riccardo plans to elope with Doralice but Erminio finds him and challenges him to a duel. Riccardo is wounded, repents his dissolute life and accepts Leonora's hand in marriage.

    Further reading

    Notes and References

    1. Vaccarini, Marina, Trionfo dell'onore, Il, in Gelli, Piero & Poletti, Filippo eds. (2007). Dizionario dell'Opera 2008, Milan: Baldini Castoldi Dalai, pp. 1311-1312. (reproduced online at Opera Manager (in Italian))