Ettore Fieramosca: ossia, La disfida di Barletta

A brisk April afternoon in 1503 finds the sun‑lit square of Barletta humming with the clatter of soldiers from Spain, Italy and France. The air is thick with the smell of sea‑salt and the chatter of men in mismatched armor, each flaunting his own colors and bravado. Amid the bustling market stalls and the distant silhouette of the Gargano hills, hunger gnaws at both the troops and the townsfolk, while the distant toll of the San Domenico bell marks the uneasy pause before something larger unfolds.

Into this restless scene steps Ettore Fieramosca, a charismatic Italian captain whose presence draws the eyes of both allies and rivals. A sudden, tense silence follows a provocative exchange between a Neapolitan soldier and a stoic Spaniard, hinting at a challenge that will test honor, skill, and national pride. Listeners are invited to experience the vivid atmosphere of a Renaissance battlefield, where personal valor and the fate of nations hang in the balance.