The Old Maid and the Thief

The Old Maid and the Thief is an opera by Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti, written and premiered in 1939. It was the first opera ever composed specifically for performance on the radio.

Related Topics:
Gian Carlo Menotti - 1939

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Menotti wrote the libretto himself; it was his first in English. The commission was from NBC. Rather than using the more contemporary through-composed style, he chose to return to the 18th century opera buffa method of composing set numbers, a format which worked well on the radio. The opera was moderately successful and helped establish his career in the United States.

Related Topics:
Libretto - 18th century - Opera buffa

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