Live recording Lo Speziale - Joseph Haydn (October 2012 - Mechelen) Ann De Renais - Grilletta Ana Naqé - Volpino Dick Van Daele - Sempronio Koen Vereertbrugghen - Mengone Tom Viaene - Director Chamber Orchestra of Mechelen - Tom Van den Eynde Lo speziale (The Apothecary), Hob. 28/3, is a three act opera buffa by Joseph Haydn, with a libretto by Carlo Goldoni. A love triangle between the poor apprentice Mengone, the rich and assured dandy Volpino, and the local apothecary's ward, Grilletta, Lo speziale is a sidesplitting comedy of great warmth and ebullience. Lo speziale prefigures Mozart. It opens with an aria complaining about an apprentice apothecary's job, much like Leporello's opening aria in Don Giovanni. The trouser role of Volpino reminds one of Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and the young lovers' use of disguises will call Cosi fan tutte to mind. The opera is scored for two flutes, two oboes, bassoon, two horns, strings, continuo. An old man, Sempronio, is determined to marry a young woman, Grilletta, more for her money than for any other reason. This will remind opera lovers of Il barbiere di Siviglia, but this is a love rectangle, Sempronio having not one young rival, but two: his apprentice, Mengone, who has taken the job only to be near Grilletta, and Volpino, a young man about town.