Festival della Valle d'Itria revives 17th‑century opera 'Il schiavo di sua moglie' in Martina Franca

The 52nd Festival della Valle d'Itria in Martina Franca presented the first staging in more than three centuries of Francesco Provenzale’s 17th‑century opera “Il sciavo di sua moglie”. The premiere was held on 24 July.

The production was directed by Rita Cosentino with musical direction by Antonio Florio. Florio’s Cappella Neapolitana performed a score that blends baroque influences from Monteverdi and Cavalli with Neapolitan dialect songs. Young singers from the Accademia di Belcanto, including Liliana Zolotoukhina as Menalippa and Valerio Ilardo as Sciarra, featured.

The opera portrays a reversed world of Amazons where women rule men, mixing heroic passion with comedy. Audience response was highly positive, praising the vocal talent and vivid staging.