“Il Mondo Della Luna” is set to take the stage in Nice. The show is scheduled for March 24 and 26 at the Opéra de Nice. Inspired by the libretto of Carlo Goldoni, this story is a “dramma giocoso” in three acts. As the event approaches, all the artists are preparing.
Italian songs, costumes created for the occasion, a story full of misunderstandings and consistent with the tradition of “commedia dell’arte.” That’s all part of “Il Mondo Della Luna.”
Since the beginning of the month, the troupe of artists has been rehearsing at the Diacosmie, a large building reserved for the opera’s preparations.
There’s no time to waste; they must grasp everything and be ready for D-day. On a temporarily arranged set, everything is in its place. First, a table of chemical experiments and a fake telescope. Then, a quirky sofa and a painting. The stage is set. In a familial, relaxed yet professional atmosphere, the “intermittent artists” then make their “entrance.” They sing, move, and internalize the lines and steps. Guiding them is Francesco Fanna, a conductor for about twenty years. He has traveled worldwide and directed several concerts and shows. What he loves about “Il Mondo Della Luna”: a lively staging. And indeed, triggered explosions, games of “trap-trap,” and the operation of a hybrid vehicle-bike straight from the imagination are all part of this 18th-century “show.”
More than just a typical story featuring a father, his daughters, and their lovers, “Il Mondo Della Luna” is a genuine “opera buffa,” a charming comedy in the words of Laure Baert. At 29, this soprano, portraying Clarice (one of the sisters), does not regret accepting this role of a lively, rebellious, and cheerful woman—a role that, by the way, suits her temperament. That, at least, is what she confides.
But there’s no time to chat; it’s time for work, for concentration. A pianist sets the rhythm, and it’s time for hours of rehearsal. Two weeks before the big evening, the stage “virtuosos” still make some mistakes and sometimes stumble unexpectedly. But through relentless effort and with an attentive stage manager watching over them, progress quickly appears. The hours pass, and the results become encouraging. It remains to be seen if the performance will captivate the audience. A performance where humor and emotion will be honored.
