Tolla

In a modest preface the narrator shares a belief that a generous patron can steady a hesitant mind, and then offers the story of Tolla, a young woman whose life unfolds through a few passionate letters exchanged with Lello, a scion of a princely northern‑Italian family. Set against the bustling backdrop of Rome’s society, their secret correspondence ignites a quiet drama of love, duty, and whispered betrayals. The tone is intimate, inviting listeners to feel the yearning that pulses through each missive.

The author confesses that most of the surrounding world is his own invention—colorful figures such as the enigmatic Marquise, the witty Pippo, a stern colonel, and a determined general’s daughter swirl around the central romance. Their interactions hint at family pride, clandestine schemes, and the pressures of a rigid aristocracy that threaten to tear the lovers apart. Listeners will be drawn into Tolla’s inner voice, where longing is rendered with a lyrical intensity that feels both intimate and timeless.