From April 2to5, 2025, the Malibran Theater brings back Baldassare Galuppi’s comic opera Arcifanfano Re dei Matti, with a libretto by Carlo Goldoni. First performed during the Venetian Carnival of 1750 at Teatro Giustinian di San Moisè, this satirical gem is revived in a new production designed to engage younger audiences.
A Hilarious and Surreal Masterpiece
This three-act dramma giocoso tells the absurd tale of Arcifanfano, self-proclaimed King of the Madmen, surrounded by a colorful cast of eccentric characters. Despite its comedic tone, the opera remains deeply relevant, using humor to explore human folly and social conventions.
This production, based on a new edition with missing sections reconstructed by Bepi Morassi (libretto) and Francesco Erle (music), is the first modern Venetian performance of the work. It is a collaborative project between Fondazione Teatro La Fenice, the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice, and students from the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory, reinforcing the importance of music education and inspiring a new generation of opera lovers.
The artistic team includes the Orchestra of the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory of Venice with conductorFrancesco Erle and director Bepi Morassi.
Join this delightfully witty and engaging opera, where past and present collide in a spectacle of music, humor, and theatrical brilliance!
Website: www.teatrolafenice.it
Location: Malibran Theater, Venice
Schedule: April 2 – 5, 2025
