“Il tenore sconfitto” di Brancati e Tommasini tra comicità musicale e contrasto spaziale

This paper explores Il tenore sconfitto, the only theatrical-musical work by Vitaliano Brancati, with music by Vincenzo Tommasini. Despite its literary and melodramatic value, the opera received little critical attention and was met with lukewarm reception both at its 1950 premiere in Rome and its 1956 revival in Palermo. The farce presents an unexpected reversal: the acclaimed Tenor is defeated by the Soldier in a singing contest. The study examines the dramaturgical structure, historical context, and symbolic implications of the performance, with a focus on the relationship between scenic space and social dynamics.