Among the extensive collection of libretti we also find some of Italian opera from Brussels. For performances in Brussels, the Italian text was translated in French and texts appear next to each other. Thus the public could more easily follow and understand what was happening on stage.

This Italian-French libretto Natale Resta’s comic opera Li tre cicisbei ridicoli was printed and published by Jean Jopseh Boucherie in Brussels in 1749. The opera was performed in Il Gran Teatro di Brussela, the modern-day Koninklijke Muntschouwburg.

This Italian-French libretto of Pietro Auletta’s opera Orazio was published by Pierre Gosse Junior in The Hague. The date is not given. This opera was produced in De Munt in Brussels. It is notable that under Attori on the second page is written: “La musica è del Sig. Pietro Auletta, Maestro di Capella di Napoli,” while on the French page next to it says: “Dont la musique est la composition du fameux Baldassar Galuppi, surnommé buranello”.

This French-Italian libretto of Il tutore Burlato does not indicate the composer or the librettist. The preface, addressed to “Zijne Koninklijke Hoogheid Charles-Alexandre”, was written by Dominico de Amicis, the baryton who plays the character of Don Tritemio. It is a reworking of the opera Il Filosofo di Campagna of Galuppi, on a libretto by Carlo Goldoni, which was performed under the name Il tutore Burlato in Brussels in 1759. 

Here we do not see a literal translation of the Italian text, but a summary per scene in French of what is happening. The music of this L’Arsace is by Domenico Sarro (1679-1744), named here as Sigr. Saro. The text is by Antonio Salvi (1664-1724). The opera was performed in Brussels in 1727.

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