Betly: Opera Comica in One Act

Betly, a charming opera by Gaetano Donizetti, tells the story of Betly, an independent Swiss girl resistant to the charms of her suitor, Daniel, who is fooled into believing that she has accepted his marriage proposal. Let down, he soon finds an advocate in Betly’s brother, Max, who has been away for years and has returned unrecognized. In order to stop a climactic staged duel between Max and Daniele, Betly finally agrees to marriage, and her brother reveals his identity. Donizetti made a number of changes to Betly after its premiere in one act at Venice’s Teatro Nuovo in 1836, including a subsequent extension of the opera to two acts. This two-volume critical edition draws from multiple sources, offers readers and performers access to important revisions, and includes two pieces that have never been published before.