| Calto | |
|---|---|
| Opera seria by Francesco Bianchi | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Francesco_Bianchi_(composer).jpg) The composer in 1805 | |
| Librettist | Giuseppe Foppa |
| Language | Italian |
| Based on | Celtic poetry by Ossian |
| Premiere | 7 February 1786 Teatro San Benedetto, Venice |
Calto is an opera seria in three acts by Francesco Bianchi. The libretto was by Giuseppe Maria Foppa, after the 'Celtic' poetry of Ossian. The opera was first performed at the Teatro San Benedetto in Venice on 23 January 1788.
Calto was an innovative work with some special instrumentation. As Marita P. McClymonds explains "Bianchi uses flat keys, fluctuating modes, chromatic dissonances and an unusually wide range of wind timbres (oboe, bassoon, clarinet, horn and English horn) for maximum dramatic effect."[1]
- ^ McClymonds, Marita P (1992), 'Calto' in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera p 692