La Critica by Niccolò Jommelli is a small jewel of 18th-century ironic theatre, in which musical theatre looks at itself in the mirror—and does not always like what it sees.

In the lively plot we encounter singers convinced of their own genius, impresarios on the brink of a nervous breakdown, and critics who pass judgment with unshakable certainty:  Lesbia, a Prima Donna at the height of her career and openly hostile toward Gioconda, the Seconda Donna, who claims to be French—without anyone ever being quite sure of it. Placido is a pragmatic music master and a restless impresario; Siface a Primo Uomo with a forked tongue; Acamante a mysterious, taciturn colleague. Severino, a poet who “does not know how to live,” introduces Palmira, his pupil with brilliant vocal abilities.

Amid gossip, courtship, and misunderstandings, everyone waits for the prompter… who will not appear that evening. The inevitable happy ending ultimately leads all conflicts to a harmonious resolution.

Amid vanity, rivalry, caprice, and fragility, La Critica focuses with elegant irony on dynamics that are by no means unfamiliar to us: in the world of opera, certain quirks have never changed. Recognizing them—perhaps with a smile—is already a first step towards a more conscious, self-aware, and generous engagement with both the art form and those who bring it to life.

With this production, we wish for our young students that the stage may become a concrete opportunity for growth and exchange, a living experience on the path toward a conscious and passionate entry into the profession.