Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari

We’re turning to another often-overlooked composer on this week’s Sunday Opera (2/2 3:00 p.m.). It’s Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, and the only verismo opera he wrote in his catalogue of approximately fifteen: “I gioielli della Madonna” (“The Jewels of the Madonna”). It caused quite a stir after it premiered in 1911 (in Berlin as “Der Schmuck der Madonna”) because of its themes implying criticism of the Catholic Church and love between a brother and his adopted sister.

This week's wonderful comedy from Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari is based on a play by Italian genius Carlo Goldoni and comes to us from a live 2007 recording made at La Fenice in Venice.

This program features two operas by Wolf-Ferrari: the long-forgotten "Das Hammerskleid" ("The Garment of Heaven") and the very popular "Il Segreto di Susanna" ("Susanna's Secret")

This week, we'll hear two operas by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari: "Le donne curiose" and "Il segreto di Susanna"

Many operas have been based on popular plays, and the comedy on this week’s Sunday Opera (3/3 3:00 p.m.) is an excellent example of when this works to…