Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| The existential dilemma — the {{tag|paradox}} — of form and substance was first adverted to in [[Puttanesca Rigatoni]]’s now largely forgotten tragicomic opera ''[[La Vittoria della Forma sulla Sostanza]]'' (often performed, if performed at all, in German, as ''[[Die Eroberung der Form durch Substanz]]''). | | The existential dilemma — the {{tag|paradox}} — of form and substance was first adverted to in [[Puttanesca Rigatoni]]’s now largely forgotten tragicomic opera ''[[La Vittoria della Forma sulla Sostanza]]'' (often performed, if performed at all, in German, as ''[[Die Eroberung der Form durch Substanz]]''). |
|
| |
| In Rigatoni's exquisite libretto, argumentative Venetian merchant [[Don Iolio Contrario]] is employed as an operations manager in his father [[Don Figaro Contrario]]'s struggling spice brokerage, where he meets, falls in love with an enchanting and gifted young brokeress [[Iolande Impulsivia]] . His father is obsessed with cost control, and has invested in a homunculus, a steam-powered computation machine which will take over the role of the brokers.
| |
|
| |
| Don Figaro, a vain and stupid man who cares mainly about his legacy and reputation, is anxious to be seen as a great financial innovator. He is exasperated at his son for his errant, romantic, impractical ways.
| |
|
| |
| Despite his Iolio's (accurate) warnings that the machine will be hopeless, devious rival [[Don Inago Montega]] tricks Don Figaro into a buying his machine, for which Don Figaro takes out a long-term loan from Don Inago at usurious prices.
| |
|
| |
| In actual fact, Don Inago couldn't wait to get rid of the machine, as it was a colossal liability, and he has configured it to perform badly and to cripple Don Figaro's business.
| |
|
| |
| With great fanfare Don Figaro takes delivery of the machine, which to everyone's surprise, works - but only because Iolande and Don Iolio are standing behind the machine ensuring it works and checking everything. It is her brilliant accounting which the machine produces.
| |
|
| |
| Iolio and Iolande quickly fall in love, despite his controlling father's best intentions.
| |
|
| |
| Don Figaro orders another machine, but to pay for it, must make Don Iolio and Iolande redundant. I have solved the problem of employees. Little does Don Figaro know!
| |
|
| |
| In wrenching aria ''Sono condannato a essere un esperto in materia'' <ref>I am condemned to be a [[subject matter expert]]</ref>, Iolande drifts aimlessly around the canals of Venice with her [[Iron Mountain]] box, pondering whether there is any future to her life at all.
| |
|
| |
| At the same time [[Don Iolio]] ineffectually rails against the stupidity of voguish fashionable ideas (his song is ''Il mondo ha una merda per i cervelli''<ref>The world has shit for brains</ref>)
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|