Every evening, Dorvil climbs a silk ladder to reach the apartments of Giulia, his secret wife. Their love story is already jeopardized by the indiscretion of Lucilla and Germano, the valet, but the situation becomes even more complicated when Dormont, Giulia’s guardian, arranges her marriage to Blansac, a rich friend of Dorvil. The two lovers redouble their tricks to reverse the situation, culminating in a final tryst which all the characters attend.
In 1812, Rossini, aged only twenty, received a commission from the Teatro San Moisè in Venice to write La Scala di seta. This opera buffa, famous for its theatrical orchestration which contributes to the misunderstandings and comic situations of the plot, marks a turning point in 19th century Italian music and foreshadows the masterpieces to come. Under the direction of Elizabeth Askren, this new production will be directed by Pascal Neyron.