A forgotten meta-opera at La Scala: Gassmann’s L’opera seria

Julie Fuchs (Stonatrilla) and Josh Lovell (Ritornello)

Giovanni Sala (Sospiro) and Serena Gamberoni (Porporina)

L'opera seria

Pietro Spagnoli (Fallito)

By Laura Servidei, 31 March 2025

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“a choice that felt emblematic of the production’s tendency to sanitise the work’s silliness”

Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 29 March 2025

Gassmann, L'opera seria

Teatro alla Scala

Christophe Rousset, Conductor

Laurent Pelly, Director, Costume Designer

Massimo Troncanetti, Set Designer

Marco Giusti, Lighting Designer

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala

Coro del Teatro alla Scala

Pietro Spagnoli, Fallito

Mattia Olivieri, Delirio

Giovanni Sala, Sospiro

Josh Lovell, Ritornello

Julie Fuchs, Stonatrilla

Andrea Carroll, Smorfiosa

Serena Gamberoni, Porporina

Alessio Arduini, Passagallo

Alberto Allegrezza, Bragherona

Lawrence Zazzo, Befana

Filippo Mineccia, Caverna

Les Talens Lyriques

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Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.