Gianni Schicchi

I loved this opera from the first time that I heard it. It's one of the rare light hearted classical opera. It's about this guy who has a post-doctorate in bullshit.

This opera piqued my interest further when i noticed a mention to him in Dante's Inferno.

The Past few days, I've been reading aloud the italian version of Inferno, and have found the lines quoted by one of my heroes, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, MD.

His daughter is in love with a nephew of a really rich scoundrel who is on his deathbed. The old geezer dies and wills his wealth to a monastery to buy salvation. When his daughter threates to hurl herself intothe Arno if she cannot marry the man she loves, he takes charge and impersonates the dead man to dictate a new will that leaves everything to HIMSELF!

A Law in Firenze (Florence) calls for forgers and their accomplices to have a hand cut off and banished forever. This keeps the "grieving" relatives quiet while he does his stuff.

This is one of the Opera I would pay USD 460 to watch from the Grand Tier of the Met. The suit is USD 500 extra, but it would be worth it!!


Puccini at his best!!!

For more Info,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianni_Schicchi