What would happen if women and men swapped roles? Aristophanes addressed this question as early as 392 BC in the "Women's Assembly". Court composer Antonio Salieri posed it anew in 1795 in his dramma giocoso "Il mondo alla rovescia" and shed light on a central question of the battle of the sexes in an extremely humorous way - has it been overcome today?
The fantastic plot takes place on an unknown island where European women, tired of being oppressed by men, have found refuge in order to finally swap roles: Where they call the shots, men are forced to do the housework and devote themselves to fashion. When the Generala, leader of the women - played by a buffo bass - returns from a sea patrol and brings with her two European prisoners, the Conte and the Marchesa, who have been found on an island, the mood soon threatens to change. While the Conte enjoys becoming the object of jealousy between the mature Generala and the young Colonella, the Marchesa, accustomed to being courted by everyone, must now become a "soldier".
Carlo Benedetto Cimento, first conductor of the house, recently rediscovered the work in Legnago, the birthplace of Salieri. A special version of this Italian rarity is being created for the performance. Maintaining the repertoire of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his contemporaries is one of the central focal points of the Salzburg State Theater's repertoire.
In his opera "Il mondo alla rovescia", which premiered at the Burgtheater in Vienna in 1795, Antonio Salieri (1750-1825) uses music and dialog to depict the absurdity of this twisted world and at the same time to inspire both laughter and reflection on our own world.
Alexandra Liedtke works as a director for both theater and opera. Her productions have been created for the Vienna State Opera, Theater in der Josefstadt, Theater Kiel and Staatstheater Karlsruhe, among others.
Premiere April 26
Further performances: April 30, May 9, 11, 14, 23 and 27, 2025
