Volpone (2004)

A rich man in Venice (his Italian name means "fox") grows richer by a curious swindle: He pretends to be deathly ill and encourages others to give him lavish gifts, hoping to become his heirs. His victims are a colorful group, all wealthy and hoping to become more wealthy by unscrupulous means. Voltore (thevulture), true to his name, hopes to prosper by pillaging a dead man. Corvina (the raven) and Cornaccio (the crow) share this ambition; Cornaccio is willing to pander his young bride Celia (fresh out of a convent and deeply devout) if he sees a profit init. A key role in the plot is played by Erminella, proprietor of a brothel in Paris, who is looking for her long-lost son in Venice.

Volpone's manservant Mosca (the fly) has a fine array of flylike orchestral buzzes in the accompaniment to his arias anda role almost as central as Volpone's. Volpone pretends to die at the end of Act 1; he makes Mosca his heir as part of their conspiracy to get out of town with his ill-gotten gains, but Mosca betrays him, claims everything and kicks him out of his home, a development that postpones but does not block a happy ending.

Wolf Trap Opera, 2004

Artists:

• Conductor - Michael Barrett
• Director - Leon Major
• Volpone - Joshua Winograde, bass
• Mosca - Joseph Kaiser, tenor
• Celia - Sara Wolfson, soprano