Gaetano Donizetti’s comic opera L’aio nell’imbarazzo or A Tutor in a Jam! was greeted with wild enthusiasm at its Rome premiere in 1824 and became one of the composer’s first great successes both in Italy and abroad. Modelled on operas by Rossini but already displaying the psychological depths of Donizetti’s mature work, this is a narrative in which, shielded from female company, the overprotected sons of a strict Marquis are entrusted to their tutor Don Gregorio. Of course, everything unravels into emotional chaos in the best opera buffa tradition, with its universal themes of romance and social politics colourfully set in 2042.

“Vincenzo Milletarì conducted the Orchestra Donizetti Opera with competence and enthusiasm... Alex Esposito... a masterful stage animal...with perfect comic tempi, intelligently exaggerated grimaces, and an extraordinary bel canto style.” – Bachtrack

“[The show] is intelligent, fresh, colourful, fun, conducted with a frenetic rhythm and with the undeniable sense of theater that is typical of Micheli... Conductor Vincenzo Milletarì infused liveliness and a harmonious and brilliant flow into this work...” – iteatridellest.com

“The Esposito-Corbelli duo... dominated the two comic acts with charisma and theatrical magnetism. Esposito showed off that vocal verve, that authority full of expressions and subtleties... The baritone Alessandro Corbelli was the protagonist of a brilliant and flawless, winning performance.” – L’eco di Bergamo

Cast:
- Il marchese Giulio Antiquati: Alessandro Corbelli (baritone)
- Gregorio Cordebono: Alex Esposito (baritone)
- Il marchese Enrico: Francesco Lucii (tenor)
- Madama Gilda Tallemanni: Marilena Ruta (soprano)
- Il marchese Pippetto: Lorenzo Martelli (tenor)
- Leonarda: Caterina Dellaere (mezzo-soprano)
- Simone: Lorenzo Liberali (baritone)

Director: Francesco Micheli
Assistant directors: Lorenzo Nencini, Giorgio Pesenti
Set designer: Mauro Tinti
Costume designer: Giada Masi
Light designer: Peter van Praet
Video concept: Studio Temp
Animation: Emanuele Kabu
Playwright: Alberto Mattioli
Video director: Matteo Ricchetti

Recording place: Teatro Donizetti, Bergamo, Italy
Recording date: 17, 20 and 26 November 2022
Sung in Italian

Video format / Aspect ratio: 16:9 1080/60
Audio format: PCM STEREO 2.0 / DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Region code: 0 – All regions
Subtitles: Italian, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean
Notes: Italian, English
Duration: 140 min. approx.