L'Alidoro is a 1740 comic opera by Leonardo Leo. The opera was rediscovered with other three other Leo operas at the Abbey of Montecassino.
Characters
Giangrazio is the father of Don Marciello and Alidoro, but the latter has disappeared.
Giangrazio's brother, Lamberto is now dead and has left behind a daughter, Elisa, and a step-daughter, Faustina. Faustina is already in love with Luigi, and Elisa falls in love with Ascanio. Giangrazio plans to marry Don Marciello to Faustina.
Luigi and Ascanio are in fact only one: Luigi has accepted a position as a servant in Giangrazio's house under the name of Ascanio in order to be close to Faustina, whom he loves. Towards the end, it turns out that Luigi/Ascanio is in fact Alidoro. The role of Luigi is played by a soprano.
Don Marciello must obey his father and marry Faustina, but is in love with Zeza. Giangrazio also falls in love with Zeza.
Zeza, the innkeeper, and Meo, the miller, love each other.
The plot is set near Naples in the area of the present Poggioreale district. The time is the 15th century.
Synopsis
Act One
Elisa interrupts a rendezvous between Faustina and Luigi/Ascanio and sits down with them. Meo and Zeza also appear. Meo plays a love song on a colascione that Luigi admires. Meo and Zeza then sing a duet. When Don Marciello appears and sings along, they leave in disgust. Elisa and Faustina also find his behavior impertinent. Don Marciello reflects on his unrequited love for Zeza and his unwanted marriage to Faustina.
Giangrazio complains about the wasted education of Don Marciello, who prefers to spend his life in pleasure and refuses to marry Faustina. He then tries to sound out Meo about his son's relationship with Zeza. This arouses Meo's jealousy, and shortly afterwards he makes Zeza feel his suspicion. Zeza is displeased about this. She finds Don Marcellio's advances annoying, and she feels neglected by Meo.
Elisa declares her love to Ascanio. He tells Faustina about it and assures her of his loyalty. However, she fears that he might leave her for Elisa.
Giangrazio asks Zeza about her relationship with Don Marciello. She tells him how she disapproves of his intrusions. When Don Marciello arrives, Giangrazio reproaches him for this. Don Marciello suspects that his father has fallen in love with her himself. Meo also appears and sees Zeza with Don Marciello. The first act ends in wild insults from everyone involved.
Act Two
In front of the inn, Don Marciello approaches Zeza again and asks for wine. She serves him only reluctantly and does not want to accept his generous tip. The jealous Meo comes along and cynically urges her to accept the money. Ascanio also appears. Meo explains that he wants nothing more to do with Zeza and that Don Marciello has a free hand. In contrast to him, Don Marciello is wealthy and also has a prettier face. Don Marciello and Meo leave. Luigi is astonished that Zeza seems to have given up Meo so quickly in favour of Don Marciello. His joy at the fact that Faustina is now free for him is, however, interrupted by Elisa, who is still hoping that he will return her love. When he rejects her, Elisa swears revenge. But Luigi is confident that she will soon calm down again.
Elisa complains to Faustina about Ascanio's behaviour. Faustina fears that Ascanio may have secretly fallen in love with her.
Meo complains to Giangrazio about Zeza and Don Marciello, thus strengthening his interest in Zeza. When she arrives, he curses her. Zeza bursts into tears. She assures Giangrazio that she never harmed his son. She kisses his hand to confirm. Giangrazio's confusion grows.
When Meo cynically asks Zeza if she has any admirers besides the father and son, she recognizes Giangrazio's infatuation. Meo leaves the house angry. Zeza despairs of men and love.
Elisa implements her plan of revenge against Ascanio. She tells Giangrazio that he tried to seduce her. Giangrazio decides to dismiss him.
In the presence of Faustina, Giangrazio throws Ascanio out. Faustina suspects Elisa is behind it.
Don Marciello demands a declaration of love from Zeza, but she rejects him again. Meo arrives. While Zeza disappears for a moment in the inn, he sings a Sicilian song. Then Don Marciello and Meo start a loud game (a morra) to annoy her. Giangrazio joins in and first argues with Meo, then with Don Marciello. Neither Giangrazio nor Don Marciello want to admit to each other that they are in love with Zeza and ask her to confirm her innocence.
Act Three
Elisa confesses to Faustina the reason for her anger: her unrequited love for Ascanio. She would get Giangrazio to hire him back only if he returned her love.