Philadelphia Opera
The Old Maid and the Thief
by
The Old Maid and the Thief is a comic opera by Gian Carlo Menotti, centered on Miss Todd, a respectable small-town spinster whose orderly life is unsettled by the arrival of a charming stranger. Her maid, Laetitia, is drawn into the visitor’s schemes, and the household’s secrets gradually turn into a lively tangle of deception and desire.
Menotti’s work was written for radio and makes its story clear through sung dialogue, memorable melodies, and a compact cast of characters. The action moves between the routines of Miss Todd’s home and the increasingly complicated plans surrounding the unexpected guest, blending operatic singing with the pace and intimacy of a radio drama.
The result is witty and theatrical, with a light touch that lets the comedy grow from the characters’ attempts to preserve appearances. Its mix of domestic intrigue, musical storytelling, and sly humor offers an inviting introduction to opera in a distinctly radio-friendly form.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.
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