Giacomo Puccini: Gianni Schicchi

Synopsis

In the mid-20th century, in Fucecchio, near Florence, Buoso Donati, an elderly collector and wealthy antique dealer, has just passed away. He lies in his bed, surrounded by relatives feigning grief. They are all worried, as the deceased has bequeathed his entire fortune to a monastery. They search frantically for the will. The young Riniccio, Donati’s nephew, finds it but agrees to show it to the family only if they promise to let him marry Lauretta, the daughter of Gianni Schicchi, a local figure of dubious reputation. Everyone accepts the condition and discovers to their horror that the rumour was true: the monks are set to inherit the fortune. Riniccio suggests calling on Schicchi for help, much to the family’s disgust. Summoned, Riniccio arrives at the house accompanied by his daughter. He proposes keeping the death a secret, taking his place, and instructing a doctor and a notary to alter ‘his’ testamentary dispositions. But has the hunter become the hunted? Not so sure...

Cast

Alessandro Corbelli

Gianni Schicchi

Sally Matthews

Lauretta

Massimo Giordano

Rinuccio

Felicity Palmer

Zita

Marie McLaughlin

La Ciesca

Riccardo Novaro

Marco

Luigi Roni

Simone

Olga Schalaewa

Nella

Adrian Thompson

Gherardo

Maxim Mikhailov

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