The historic Library of the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory of Napoli has recently welcomed among his precious works the essay “The Melodrama by Pietro Metastasio the Primacy of the Text” by Luca Lupoli, with bibliographical research by Olga De Maio, published by Editrice Pagine.
This essay is in addition to the one dedicated to the Neapolitan musician Mario Persico and his operatic production last year. The head of the library, Doctor Tiziana Grande, has shown great dedication in enriching the collection with works of high cultural and historical value.Article Key Points
A Prestigious Location
What better place could the essay on the great reformer of melodrama Pietro Metastasio have, if not among the rooms dedicated to another giant of 700th-century Neapolitan culture and music, Saverio Mattei? Mattei, considered the founder of the Library of San Pietro a Majella, was an admirer and recipient of several of Metastasio's letters, making this venue particularly significant for Lupoli's work.
Saverio Mattei: A Protagonist of Italian Culture
Saverio Mattei (1742-1795) was a lawyer by profession and a biblical scholar by passion, as well as a translator of the psalms, a theoretician of classical and modern dramaturgy, and an author and reviser of librettos. A friend and supporter of Jommelli, as well as a correspondent of Metastasio, Mattei was certainly a prominent figure on the Italian cultural, theatrical and literary scene of the second half of the 1775th century. Defined as “a rare genius” by Metastasio in XNUMX, Mattei continues to attract the interest of scholars.
The Neapolitan Period of Pietro Metastasio
Pietro Metastasio's intense creative and vital period manifested itself during his stay in Naples (1719-1724), where he wrote "Didone abbandonata". This work, particularly linked to the actress Marianna Bulgarelli, known as la Romanina, marked a turning point in his career and was performed with great success at the Teatro San Bartolomeo during the Carnival of 1724, with music by Domenico Sarro.
“Dido Abandoned”: A Masterpiece of Melodrama
“Dido Abandoned” reveals the full lively sense of Metastasio’s theatre, blending scenic, technical and spectacular elements into the dramatic text. Considered an early example of a “workshop” and a “writing laboratory”, the work demonstrates how Metastasio knew how to integrate theory, ideology and artistic practice.
Luca Lupoli's Analysis
The author of the essay, Luca Lupoli, explores the works and correspondence of the famous poet Pietro Metastasio, leading the reader in an investigation of the expressive superiority of poetry in melodrama. Lupoli recalls the model of Greek tragedy and emphasizes the primacy of the poetic text over other performing arts, influencing great opera composers such as Verdi, Wagner and Puccini.
An Unmissable Work
Luca Lupoli's essay, published by Casa Editrice Pagine, is a valuable contribution for theater and music enthusiasts. It is available in all major physical and online bookstores, and in Naples it can be found at the Libreria Musicale SIMEOLI in Via San Pietro a Majella n.5, in front of the Conservatory of the same name.
Article published on 27 July 2024 - 15:14
