The Old Maid and the Thief

The Old Maid and the Thief is a one act opera by Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti, written and premiered in 1939. It was one of the earliest operas composed specifically for performance on the radio. Menotti wrote the libretto himself; it was his first in English. The commission was from NBC. Rather than using the more contemporary through-composed style, he chose to return to the 18th century opera buffa method of composing set numbe... more

The Old Maid and the Thief is a one act opera by Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti, written and premiered in 1939. It was one of the earliest operas composed specifically for performance on the radio. Menotti wrote the libretto himself; it was his first in English. The commission was from NBC. Rather than using the more contemporary through-composed style, he chose to return to the 18th century opera buffa method of composing set numbers, a format which worked well on the radio. There are 14 short scenes, each preceded by a narrated "announcement", in keeping with the medium of radio (to be excluded if fully staged). The harmonic language is tonal and conservative. The radio announcements are included in the score, but it is also marked for stage direction. The Old Maid and the Thief is a twisted tale of morals and evil womanly power. Menotti writes in the libretto "The devil couldn't do what a woman can- Make a thief out of an honest man." Menotti was inspired to write the... less