ABSTRACT
Independent sets of intermezzos came to the stage in Vienna, Dresden, and Hamburg a decade or more after the core repertoire was developed in Venice. Between 1706 and 1709, a new dimension in operatic entertainment took root in Venice, as separately published librettos for sets of comic intermezzos began to make their appearance in that city. One of the most famous bass singers who for more than a quarter of a century performed the independent comic intermezzos in the major opera centres in Italy was Giovanni Battista Cavana from Mantua. In general, a set of intermezzos ends with a duet that focuses on the resolution of whatever conflict has existed between the protagonists. The set of intermezzos staged with Teseo in Creta calls for two singers: a bass, cast in the role of Pampalugo, and a soprano, in the role of Galantina.
