La bufera

In the twilight of eighteenth‑century Piedmont, the modest estate of Robelletta sits at the edge of a bustling salt trade route, its stone façade split between genteel elegance and sturdy countryside utility. The narrative opens with the genteel routines of Count Annibale and Contessa Polissena, whose scheduled journeys to the tranquil Florita reveal a world of formal greetings, rustling carriage wheels, and the quiet choreography of servants and clergy. Their cherished companion, the gallant Telemaco Mazel, arrives with a mix of deference and lingering affection, his presence hinting at deeper ties that shape the rhythm of daily life.

As the seasons turn, the estate becomes a stage for subtle tensions: the impatient young officer Massimo Claris, the ever‑watchful priest Bonhomine, and the loyal maid Teresa Virando each add layers of personality to the tight‑knit community. Against this backdrop of aristocratic propriety and provincial charm, listeners are drawn into a portrait of love, duty, and the delicate balance between tradition and change, all set within the fragrant gardens and winding lanes of a forgotten Italian hamlet.