Il Campiello – Wolf-Ferrari

This translation was commissioned for the British premiere of Wolf-Ferrari’s 1936 comedy at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London (1996). The libretto is based on the 1756 play by Goldoni; the Little Square of the title is in Venice – both play and libretto are largely in Venetian dialect.

The Guildhall production was directed by Tim Carroll and conducted by Clive Timms; the cast included Mark Stone.

Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari

GNESE

I long to be married, be married, ah me!
I’m feeling so flurried
and flustered and worried,
it’s all so confusing
and someone might see.

And then, if they notice,
they’ll all start to natter
and gossip and chatter,
and ask what’s the matter,
and not leave me be.