Rossini and Puccini, Operas of Comedy and Consequence

This spring’s double bill pairs two contrasting one-act operas that explore themes of familial obligation and personal sacrifice. Rossini’s La Cambiale di Matrimonio (The Marriage Contract) is a fast-moving farce about an arranged marriage gone awry, featuring spirited ensembles and the youthful energy of Rossini’s earliest operatic style. Puccini’s Suor Angelica, part of his Il trittico trilogy, tells the poignant story of a noblewoman forced in...