The work in brief
The sculptor Pygmalion is desperate: the work appears empty and meaningless to him since he began to experience a new and unknown amorous passion for one of his female statues, whose limbs seem to move when approached with the tools of the trade. Torn by mixed feelings, he turns to the gods, asking for peace and mercy. All hope, however, is in vain and the only solution seems to be death: Pygmalion turns to Venus, goddess of love, saying he wants to consecrate her life and her death to the statue he calls by name: "Galatea where are you? ? " When lightning strikes her, the statue comes to life and the artist tells her he was its creator; Galatea - discovering the beating of her heart - she realizes that she is alive and she embraces him.
Overview
Don Febeo, a dilettante music lover, tyrannizes his daughters Aristea and Rosina as well as his servants, Biscroma and Celestina, with his musical obsessions. While Rosina seeks refuge in hypochondria in order to escape the mandate of playing an instrument, Aristea pretends to be fond of music, although in reality she adores Metastasio. The servants eventually participate without any enthusiasm to the musical life of the house. Don Carolino, Aristea’s lover, asks Don Febeo for his daughter’s hand. Asked about his musical skills, and not being a musician, he is shown to the door. Upon returning from the academy, Febeo (who is writing a Pastiche together with eleven other maestros), is faced with Carolino in disguise, who is introduced as his new secretary. However, Carolino fails his first musical dictation and is thrown out once more. Finally, Biscroma comes up with the saving idea. All members of the house join in the game and welcome the famous maestro Semiminima who comes to pay Febeo a visit: he is none other than Carolino in renewed disguise. Febeo, deeply impressed by the master’s rep
