LO SPEZIALE

»Lo Speziale«, the pharmacist Sempronio, has little interest in the affairs of a pharmacy. He is more interested in distant lands—and his wealthy ward Grilletta, whom he intends to marry. She, on the other hand, can barely escape her admirers: while Volpino unsuccessfully courts her hand with Sempronio, Grilletta has set her sights on Mengone, the pharmacist’s assistant. A lively four-way story unfolds, full of intrigues and misunderstandings, until love ultimately triumphs.

Stiff, humourless, Haydn. Anyone who makes this connection has yet to become acquainted with the composer. Not only did the musical genius get up to all sorts of mischief as a boy, but even in his later years, he did not lack wit or a subtle sense of rebellion and creative messages. Nor did he hold back from transferring these traits into his music. The works performed by the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester are also peppered with unexpected twists and subversive humour. An introduction to Haydn’s subtle style is provided by the »Farewell Symphony«, with which he persuaded Prince Nikolaus Esterházy to grant his staff a holiday. Under the baton of conductor Jan Willem de Vriend, the orchestra also performs »Lo Speziale«, an entertaining love quadrangle that transforms a simple pharmacy into a madhouse overflowing with amorous frenzy. »Haydn’s operas are fantastic, they are simply incredibly good«, says Jan Willem de Vriend, who has completed the incomplete score of the opera, thus making it possible to experience it anew for the performance. Together with Swiss director Eva Buchmann, he has created an engaging atmosphere for both singers and the audience.

The performance on SUN June 21 is part of Festival-Subscription II.