
Produced by Carlo Traverso, Claudio Paganelli and the
PROPRIETÀ LETTERARIA
In a modest dining room of a provincial Italian town, a sparkling comedy unfolds, balancing tenderness and satire. The first act introduces Emma, a quick‑witted housewife, and her lover Fabrizio, a young lawyer whose declarations of love tumble out in lyrical bursts. Their flirtatious exchange, full of repeated vows and playful teasing, sets a tone of both earnest affection and farcical excess.
Meanwhile, Emma’s husband Giulio, a pragmatic attorney, returns home with news of a lucrative but dubious financial deal. Their conversation reveals the undercurrents of ambition, jealousy, and the everyday struggles of a middle‑class family. As servants and children move in the background, the characters navigate the thin line between genuine feeling and self‑interest.
The piece captures the charm of late‑19th‑century Italian society, where love, money, and reputation collide in witty repartee. Its brisk dialogue and vivid characters make it a delightful listen, inviting audiences to laugh while pondering the bittersweet nature of human connections.
Language
it
Duration
~1 hours (82K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2008-04-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1847–1906
Best known as one of the writers behind Puccini’s great operas, he was also a major Italian playwright whose work brought everyday emotions and sharp observation to the stage. Trained in law but drawn to literature, he helped shape both modern drama and some of opera’s most enduring stories.
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