La montanara

A portrait of mid‑nineteenth‑century Italy unfolds through the letters and decrees that bind the Malatesti family to the ducal court. The narrative opens with an urgent missive ordering Count Gino, the wayward heir, to the remote border of Querciola—a punishment meant to curb his scandalous liaisons and restless travels. Through the eyes of his father, Count Jacopo, the story reveals a household caught between personal loyalty and the shifting tides of politics after the upheavals of 1848.

Jacopo, a steadfast servant of the Duke of Modena, grapples with the weight of his ancestry and the expectations of his noble lineage. His mother’s courtly past and his own reputation for unwavering fidelity contrast sharply with his son’s rebellious spirit. As the family prepares for Gino’s exile, the tension between duty, honor, and the desire for freedom creates a vivid tableau of a world on the brink of change, inviting listeners to linger on the delicate balance of power and affection.