Una notte bizzarra

On a blustery night in January 1857, the wind roars down Genoa’s Via Assarotti, rattling shutters and scattering rumors among passers‑by. In a modest yet elegant third‑floor flat lives Roberto Fenoglio, a thirty‑four‑year‑old bachelor lawyer with a steady income but a restless spirit. Though surrounded by loyal friends, a steady cook, and even a gentle horse, the young man finds his days drenched in ennui.

To break the monotony, Fenoglio throws an impromptu masquerade, dressing himself in a flamboyant Chinese costume and inviting his circle to a midnight revelry of music, dancing, and laughter. The party swirls with masked guests, lively conversations, and playful banter that even draws the furniture into the merriment, while the relentless wind outside seems to carry secret whispers through the rooms. Listeners are drawn into a night where humor and a touch of the uncanny collide, hinting at the unexpected turns that await as the festivities unfold.