The Marriage Contract by Rossini, so 03 lis 2012, Od (2012/2012), Režie Jacopo Spirei, Dirigent Konstantin Chudovsky, Theater am Fleischmarkt, Vienna, Austria

The premiere of La cambiale di matrimonio on November 10, 1810 at the Teatro San Moisè in Venice heralded the rediscovery of a composer who would determine international opera events for the next two decades. The 18-year-old, still inexperienced Rossini knew how to seize the opportunity offered by the commission of the impresario Antonio Cera and delivered much more than just a test of talent with his opera debut. Although in many ways still indebted to the great role model Domenico Cimarosa, one can find in La ambiale di matrimonioalready all those advantages that distinguish Rossini's art: pronounced stage instinct and a successful characteristic, yes psychological interpretation of the characters or melodic ingenuity and that typical, propulsive rhythm with which he was supposed to make his audience frenzy. The English merchant Tobia Mill would like to marry his daughter Fanny to his American business partner Slook for a considerable sum. But she loves the poor young man Edoardo. After some turbulence, everything dissolves in favor, as Slook, overwhelmed by the deep love of the two young lovers, transfers the marriage change - the "cambiale di matrimonio" - to the young rival. Together we sing about the victory of love. Since the intimate setting of the chamber opera is particularly suitable for the early masterpieces of Gioachino Rossini, this first stroke of genius of the “Swan of Pesaro” is to be understood as the prelude to further Rossini one-act plays in the years to come. Rossini had resurrected the golden age of Cimarosa with his music - according to the early Rossini admirer Stendhal. A new beginning as a new beginning - what more could the Vienna Chamber Opera wish for with this first production under the responsibility of the Theater an der Wien.