''Volo di notte'' (''Night Flight'') is a one-act opera composed by

Luigi Dallapiccola Luigi Dallapiccola (February 3, 1904 – February 19, 1975) was an Italian composer known for his lyrical serialism, twelve-tone compositions. Biography Dallapiccola was born in Pisino d'Istria (at the time part of Austria-Hungary, current ...

to an

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

libretto he wrote based on the novel '' Vol de nuit'' by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It was first performed at the

Teatro della Pergola The Teatro della Pergola is an historic opera house in Florence, Italy. It is located in the centre of the city on the Via della Pergola, from which the theatre takes its name. It was built in 1656 under the patronage of Cardinal Gian Carlo de' Med ...

Florence Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany Regions of Italy, region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilan ...

on May 18, 1940.Sellors, Anthony: "Volo di notte"
Grove Music Online
ed. L. Macy (accessed 4 February 2008), <> The opera emphasizes individual suffering and was written as a response to the rise of

fascism Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultra-nationalist political ideology and movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy an ...

Roles

*First employee (

tenor A tenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The low extreme for tenors is wide ...

) *Second employee ( baritone) *Third employee (tenor) *Fourth employee (baritone) *Leroux, ''a pilot'' ( bass) *Pellerin, ''a pilot'' (tenor) *Radio operator (tenor) *Rivière, ''the airfield director'' ( bass-baritone) *Robineau, ''an inspector'' (bass) *Simona Fabien, ''wife of a pilot'' ( mezzo-soprano)

Synopsis

The subject is an individual aviator, an Argentine long-distance mail carrier, during the early days of flying. He is caught in a storm, with no way to land. The ensuing drama occurs both within his family, anxious for his safe return, and among his employers, concerned both for his safe return and the success of their enterprise.

References

{{Authority control Operas by Luigi Dallapiccola Italian-language operas 1940 operas Operas One-act operas Adaptations of works by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Operas based on novels Aviation plays and operas