L'Amfiparnaso

Madrigal comedy, or Commedia harmonica (as known in the 16th century Italian vernacular) was a genre that flourished briefly from 1590 for about twenty years, previous to the first operas.

Some of them were collections of pieces, while others used commedia dell'arte characters and told a full story through the medium of three or five-voice ensemble.

Although in the dedication Vecchi describes the dedicatee, Alessandro D'Este, as having heard a performance of L'Amfiparnaso, the date of the premiere is unknown.

In 1844 historian François-Joseph Fétis proposed a date of 1594 for the work's premiere, but this was based on incorrect assumptions about the early history of opera and Vecchi's place in it.

Pantalone promises his daughter Isabella to doctor Gratiano, because he likes the clumsy fellow, who answers badly and listens even worse.

Because he believes that his beloved Isabella is in love with Captain Cardone, in utter jealousy Lucio announces he will jump into the abyss.

With a melting and enamoured voice the Doctor sings a gracious madrigal under the balcony of his lovely bride.

A 2003 DVD recording by I Fagiolini, directed by Robert Hollingworth, chooses to forgo any text or scene, but does however introduce each piece with an English introduction narrated by Simon Callow.