• Ferruccio Busoni. Theatralisches Capriccio in one act. 1916.
• Libretto by the composer.
• First performance at the Stadttheater, Zurich, on 11th May 1917.

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CHARACTERS

Arlecchino	speaking part
Columbine, his wife	mezzo-soprano
Ser Matteo del Sarto, a tailor	baritone
Abbate Cospicuo	baritone
Dottor Bombasto	bass
Leandro	tenor
Annunziata	silent role

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The first part, Arlecchino as Rogue, has Harlequin flirting with Annunziata, wife of the elderly tailor Matteo. Harlequin tells him that the barbarians are upon them and locks him up out of harm’s way. Arlecchino as Warrior has Matteo enlisted for military service and the third section, Arlecchino as Husband, brings a confrontation between Harlequin and his Columbine, followed by her flirtation with Leandro. Harlequin interrupts and in a duel wounds Leandro. The final section, Arlecchino as Victor, has Leandro taken to hospital by the passing Priest and Doctor, while Harlequin makes off with Annunziata.

Busoni’s original intention was to provide comic interludes, in the old German Casperl tradition, for his Doktor Faust, thereby following 16th-century puppet-theatre practice. The score of Arlecchino, oder Die Fenster (Harlequin, or The Windows) is allusive, with references to earlier operas and contemporary music.