First Version (1896)
Vittorio Gnecchi, just nineteen years old, composes his first important work, a bucolic operina for children, staged on October 7, 1896 in the small theater of Villa Gnecchi in Verderio. He put only the arias to music, leaving the recitatives to the prose.
The second version (1942)
After more than forty years, in the midst of the Second World War, Gnecchi resumes and reworks the work of his youth. He sets the recitatives to music and revises the arias, also changing parts of the libretto. The opera is then sold to Ricordi, which publishes the score.
Divided into two acts, the opera narrates the love of the young shepherd Amida for Linda, daughter of the blind Agasto. After a victorious hunt against a ferocious wolf, Amida declares his love, but the girl rejects him and promises that she will marry him only if he can bring her the magic water of Monte Nero, which can restore her father's sight. Amida implores the help of the Gods. The Virtue of Love comes to her rescue and instills confidence in her. Upon his return with the magic water, Linda confesses her love for him.
The first representation in 1896 is a sumptuous party, attended by all of Milan's high society. Ricordi publishes the score in a luxury edition. Equally rich is the libretto, a real jewel, with drawings by Adolfo Hohenstein, at that time set designer at La Scala and artistic director of Officine Grafiche Ricordi, author of the sketches for the scenes and the figurines for the costumes.
Antonio Rovescalli realizes for the occasion the full panorama scenes without wings, a solution that he will adopt the following year for the first scene of Tristan at La Scala.
In the book of the family chronicle there is an extended narration of the event, to which are invited all the music critics of Milan and who express unanimous praise for this first simple work of the young composer.
