Here's something you might be interested in.
Photo on left: Gianni Schicchi poster
At the beginning of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, the Donati family has a problem. Buoso, the wealthy pater-familias has died. The bulk of the inheritance is a house in Florence, the mills in Signa, and Buoso's prize mule--it's the middle ages--is going to the monastery.
What to do? What to do?
Young Rinuccio has an idea. They send for Gianni Schicchi.
Schicchi arrives, looks at the will and tells them they're screwed and he can't help.
However, Rinuccio and Schicchi's daughter, Lauretta, hope to marry in May but things have changed. With the lose of the fortune, the Donati's want a dowry from Schicchi.
Schicchi has no dowry and is livid that the family would sacrifice Rinuccio and Lauretta's love over a dowry. He is about to storm out when Lauretta pleads with him.
"Oh mio babinno caro", oh my beloved papa, have pity and help us. She tells him that she wants to go get the ring but if they can't she's going to throw herself into the Arno.
Schicchi has a flash of inspiration.
Long story short, Schicchi impersonates the dead Buoso and dictates a new will to a notary. All the smaller items in the will go to the original recipients but when it comes to the house, the mills, and the mule, those will now go to Buoso's great friend Gianni Schicchi.
At the end of the story Rinuccio and Lauretta are together in the house overlooking Florence and singing about their love.
Schicchi addresses the audience. "Tell me, gentlemen, if Buoso's wealth could have gone to better ends than this? For this prank, I have been condemned to the Inferno, and so be it; but with all due respect to the great father Dante, if you have been amused, grant me extenuating circumstances!"
Schicchi is willing to let Dante put him in The Inferno so his daughter can have love.
Happy Father's Day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0diDwHtATw
Photo on left: Gianni Schicchi poster
At the beginning of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, the Donati family has a problem. Buoso, the wealthy pater-familias has died. The bulk of the inheritance is a house in Florence, the mills in Signa, and Buoso's prize mule--it's the middle ages--is going to the monastery.
What to do? What to do?
Young Rinuccio has an idea. They send for Gianni Schicchi.
Schicchi arrives, looks at the will and tells them they're screwed and he can't help.
However, Rinuccio and Schicchi's daughter, Lauretta, hope to marry in May but things have changed. With the lose of the fortune, the Donati's want a dowry from Schicchi.
Schicchi has no dowry and is livid that the family would sacrifice Rinuccio and Lauretta's love over a dowry. He is about to storm out when Lauretta pleads with him.
"Oh mio babinno caro", oh my beloved papa, have pity and help us. She tells him that she wants to go get the ring but if they can't she's going to throw herself into the Arno.
Schicchi has a flash of inspiration.
Long story short, Schicchi impersonates the dead Buoso and dictates a new will to a notary. All the smaller items in the will go to the original recipients but when it comes to the house, the mills, and the mule, those will now go to Buoso's great friend Gianni Schicchi.
At the end of the story Rinuccio and Lauretta are together in the house overlooking Florence and singing about their love.
Schicchi addresses the audience. "Tell me, gentlemen, if Buoso's wealth could have gone to better ends than this? For this prank, I have been condemned to the Inferno, and so be it; but with all due respect to the great father Dante, if you have been amused, grant me extenuating circumstances!"
Schicchi is willing to let Dante put him in The Inferno so his daughter can have love.
Happy Father's Day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0diDwHtATw