Life of Mozart

—FERRANDO—GUILLELMO. 257his arms. This scene consists of a regularly worked-outduet in two movements, but the long suspense requires acorresponding length of reaction from it, and we have toall intents and purposes a second duet, with two movementsexpressive of the happiness of the lovers. Here again theexpression of feeling is so direct and true that we cannotbut imagine Ferrando carried away by the impulse of themoment. In fact, these two characters and their relationsto each other are somewhat out of keeping with the rest ofthe opera. Da Ponte failed in giving due effect to thedeeper psychological interest of the characters ; Mozart hasclothed them in flesh and blood, but even he has failed toendow them with the distinct and vivid personality which isto be found in " Figaro" and " Don Giovanni."No doubt the idiosyncrasies of the performers, who werefor the most part more of singers than actors, and had apparentlynot much talent for comedy, had considerable influenceon the plan of the piece ;^^ the part of Guillelmo was writtenfor the excellent buffo Benucci (Vol. III., pp. 51, 88).^^ Hefirst comes forward independently, when, in his disguise asan Albanian, his first attack has been repulsed and, Fiordiligihaving expressed her haughty indignation, he boldly ventureson a fresh declaration of love. Here he had originally anair (584 K.) of the most decided buffo type, which opposed tothe exaggerated pathos of Fiordiligi an extravagance of adifferent kind, and expressed in strong caricature the confidenceof the new wooers in the ultimate success of theirsuit :{To Fiordiligi.)Rivolgete ä lui lo sguardoE vedete come sta;Tutto dice, io gelo, io ardo,Idol mio, pieta, pieta.s^The tenor, Vincenzo Calvesi, who made his first appearance with his wifein April, 1785 (Wien. Ztg., 1785, No. 33, Anh.), is the same for whom, in 1785,the inserted piece, " Villanella rapita," was written (Vol. II., p. 331), and who,in 1786, took the part of one Antipholus in Storace's " Gli Equivoci," whileKelly took the other (Kelly, Reminisc, I., p. 237).^2 Bassi distinguished himself subsequently in Dresden in the part of Guillelmo(A. M. Z., X., p. 410 ; XIII., p. 730; XIX., p. 649).III.S