SYNOPSIS ACT I In a square on the Grand Canal the young Neapolitan spaghetti cook, Pappacoda observes that for all the splendours of the city, Venetians do not have a spaghetti cook – Pappacoda! Enrico, a nobleman, approaches and enquires if his uncle, Senator Delacqua is at home. Finding him away, Enrico sees it as an opportunity for an assignation with the Senator’s young wife Barbara. Enrico tips Pappacoda and gives him a letter to pass on to Barbara arranging a meeting with her later that evening. A boat arrives carrying Annina, who is selling her fruitti di mare. Pappacoda teases her, telling her that her lover Caramello, the barber, will soon be here with the Duke of Urbino. Annina says she is no longer interested in Caramello and asks Pappacoda about his love for Ciboletta, Signora Delacqua’s pretty servant. When Barbara returns home, Pappacoda gives her the message from Enrico. Annina and Barbara depart leaving Pappacoda with Ciboletta. He promises her that they will get married if he can obtain a position as cook for the Duke. The Senators arrive, discussing the Carnival banquet that the Duke of Urbino will give. He is a notorious womaniser and has already cast his roving eye on Barbara, so Delacqua has arranged for his wife to be taken by gondola to the island of Murano to stay in the convent there. The other Senators have forbidden their wives to attend the ball. Caramello appears and quickly spots Annina in the crowd, but she is not pleased that he has practically ignored her for the past year. Caramello explains that he is hoping to gain a position as the Duke’s administrator before they wed. Caramello learns from Pappacoda that a gondolier is due to take Barbara to Murano at 9 p.m. What he does not know is that his own girlfriend, Annina, has been persuaded by Barbara to take her place in the gondola. Annina is determined to return within the hour so that she may join in the Carnival dancing with Caramello, Pappacoda and Ciboletta. The Duke arrives. Caramello reveals his plan to take the place of the gondolier calling for Barbara. He will then deliver her to the Duke’s palace. He sets off on his adventure. Left alone, the Duke looks over to Delacqua’s balcony and sings a serenade. At Delaqua’s house, Barbara and Annina, are exchanging cloaks and wait for the gondolier’s song. Below, Ciboletta brings Pappacoda a Carnival costume. Barbara and Annina disappear into the house. When Caramello is heard singing the gondolier’s song, Delacqua helps the masked figure he believes to be his wife into the gondola. A group of peasants appear and, with Enrico at their head, they sing a serenade to Delacqua for his birthday. Barbara slips out to join Enrico. The birthday serenade merges with the sound of Caramello’s gondola song as night falls on Venice, neither Caramello nor Annina knowing the true identity of the other. — Intermission —
ACT II
The Duke eagerly watches for the arrival of the gondola in which Caramello is due to bring Barbara. Agricola, Constancia and the other Senators’ wives arrive, ignoring their husband’s wishes. Finally the gondola is seen approaching, and the Duke ushers his guests into the ballroom. Annina recognizes Caramello as the gondolier and pretends to faint. As Caramello attempts to revive the ailing ‘Barbara’, Annina tries to seduce Caramello, who gives in to her, 4