Il teatro alla moda - a TV series set in the first half of the 18 century following the lives of art

Il teatro alla moda - a TV series set in the first half of the 18 century following the lives of artists from the musical period known as opera seria. Act IIILondon, 1722, the German composer Georg Friedrich Händel sends his troublesome assistant – harpsichordist Pietro Giuseppe Sandoni on a mission to Venice. Sandoni – a gambler and a ladies’ man must convince a young soprano – Francesca Cuzzoni to sing for Händel’s opera company in London. When the musician arrives to Italy he finds himself in the middle of the rivalry between Faustina Bordoni and the sought-after Cuzzoni. The first one is as charming and beautiful, as the latter nasty and homely. However, Francesca’s voice convinces Sandoni of the singer’s merit, but the young soprano still refuses Händel’s offer. The composer is determined to have her, so Sandoni decides to seduce the singer, despite his hidden antipathy towards the girl. The temperamental, yet naïve Cuzzoni craves for male’s admiration, so she very quickly submits to Sandoni’s gallant advances. Under the harpsichordist’s influence she agrees finally to go to London. Faustina is furious – not only her biggest rival has signed the very profitable contract abroad, but also succeeded in her private life, despite being less attractive than her.When Cuzzoni arrives to England she clashes almost immediately with Händel, refusing to sing an aria written for another, less talented singer. The composer is a matching rival for an insolent soprano – he threatens the diva with throwing her out of the window. Only when the older man really lifts Cuzzoni up and tries to push her outside, she surrenders. Her London debut is splendid though, and the singer is overwhelmed with her reception. That does not stop her from disliking Händel. She allies with her co-star – an extravagant castrato Senesino – the London’s ladies heartthrob, who hates the composer as much as she does. They both became insanely popular and well-paid pair of singers. The trio – Francesca, Sandoni and Senesino goes to Bath where they are seen together spending money on gambling, drinking or buying new clothes. Newspapers start gossip about Francesca and her lover living openly together without the holy sacraments. Cuzzoni wants Sandoni to marry her, but he still avoids the topic, because he does not love the singer and prefers life without obligations. Only when Francesca reveals that she’s pregnant he proposes to her, realizing that this marriage is his only chance to grasp Francesca’s incomings, since after becoming a mother she may lose her stage appeal very quickly… “To the Mothers of Female Singers – When the Girls have an audition with the Impresario, they (the mothers) will move the mouth with them, will prompt them the usual Ornaments and Trills and, asked about the age of the Virtuosa, will cut down at least ten years”. Benedetto Marcello, Il teatro alla moda (The Fashionable Theater) End of season one. -- source link

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