Insertion aria

First page of the insertion duet, "Quel cor umano e tenero," composed by Joseph Haydn, words by Lorenzo Da Ponte. The caption indicates it was performed in Vicente Martin y Soler's opera Il burbero di buon cuore as sung by Anna Morichelli and Giovanni Morelli (in performances beginning May 17, 1794 at King's Theatre, London). This duet is actually an adaptation of Haydn's duet "Quel tuo visetto amabile" from his opera Orlando Paladino

An insertion aria (aria di baule in Italian, also known as suitcase aria,[1] interpolated aria, or trunk aria) is an aria sung in an opera for which it was not composed. It was a practice that began in the seventeenth century and continued actively through the late 19th century[2] and sporadically through the 20th century. The insertion aria could replace an existing aria, or might be added to an opera. All insertions were planned in advance. They might be composed by the same composer of the opera, or might have been written by a different composer, with or without the knowledge of the opera's composer. Most insertions were of arias; infrequently non-operatic songs were inserted. Insertions could consist of arias, duets, ensembles, even entire scenes.[3] Although men and women singers used insertion, women are the ones most remembered for the practice.[4] The years 1800–1840 represent the apex of influence that women singers exerted over the operatic stage, influencing most aspects of opera performances, including insertions.[4]

  1. ^ "Suitcase aria". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. 2001. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.O007153. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
  2. ^ Poriss 2009, p. 3.
  3. ^ Poriss 2009, p. 4.
  4. ^ a b Poriss 2009, p. 8.