Elisa e Claudio

Elisa e Claudio, ossia L'amore protetto dall'amicizia (Elisa and Claudio, or Love Protected by Friendship) is a two-act melodramma semiseria by the 19th Century Italian composer Saverio Mercadante from a libretto by Luigi Romanelli based on the play, Rosella by Filipo Casari.

[1] Initially successful, the opera was presented at His Majesty's Theatre in London in April 1823, followed a month later at the then-named Théâtre royal italien in Paris on 22 November.

[2] In fact, very few revivals of any of the composer's operas have taken place in the 20th century, but those of Elisa e Claudio include a 1971 presentation at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples and 1973 performances at the occasional "Festival Mercadantiano" in the composer's home town, Altamura in Southern Italy, in which Salvatore Fisichella sang the role of Claudio.

The Wexford Festival in Ireland was instrumental in featuring Mercadante's work, and Elisa and Claudio was presented there in October 1988.

Scene 3: The gallery in the Count's villa Silvia and Celso plan to elope, but suddenly Claudio and Carlotta arrive with the news that the children have been kidnapped.

Scene 4: The Count's garden The bewildered Marquis is taking the air when he is confronted by a furious Elisa, who accuses him of ordering the kidnapping.

Silvia, Claudio, Carlotta and Celso now appear, and when the Count orders the servants to throw Elisa out, she realises that he, and not the Marquis, is her enemy.

Celso tells Silvia and Carlotta that he has acquired a key to a secret door through which Elisa and Claudio can escape.

After a scene of general confusion, Claudio meets Celso, who has freed the two children, and they hymn the power of friendship.