Opera Southwest debuts Rossini's comedic work of mixed-up luggage and identities

Gioachino Rossini is like a train conductor, constantly propelling the movement forward.

Opera Southwest will accelerate that rhythm in the composer’s “L’occasione fa il ladro (Opportunity Makes a Thief, or The Exchanged Suitcase)” at the Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater on Friday, Sept. 8, Saturday, Sept. 9, and Sunday, Sept. 10.

The one-act comic opera stars singers from the company’s apprentice program. The vocalists are chosen through competitive national auditions.

Set to a libretto by Luigi Prividali, based on an 1810 vaudeville by Eugène Scribe, the opera involves a mix-up of luggage and identities.

During a storm, three travelers take refuge in an inn in the country. Alberto has been betrothed to a woman whom he has never met, and is on his way to meet her. Don Parmenione, accompanied by Martino, is trying to trace a friend’s sister, who has disappeared. When the storm is over, Alberto leaves, accidentally taking Parmenione’s luggage with him instead of his own. Martino opens Alberto’s suitcase and discovers, among his papers, a portrait, presumably of the bride-to-be. Parmenione decides to masquerade as Alberto and claim the bride for himself.

“It’s the fourth one-act opera Rossini wrote at the beginning of his career,” said Anthony Barrese, OSW artistic director. “It was by far the most performed in his lifetime. It’s really unknown today. I guarantee this is a New Mexico premier.

“The music is interesting,” Barrese continued. “All these one-acts are small orchestras and no chorus. The soprano’s aria has the bass and the tenor singing on it. So every aria becomes kind of an ensemble piece.”

Barrese will conduct two of the performances. Nathaniel Efthimiou, a recipient of the prestigious Sir Georg Solti Foundation’s U.S. Career Assistance Award, will lead the Saturday show. He will also study with and be mentored by Barrese, who won the award in 2007.

“So in addition to training the young singers, we’re training an apprentice conductor,” Barrese said.

Rossini is a Barrese favorite.

“His rhythms are so infectious that it propels the drama forward,” he said.