Luis fortunio biography

The wife of an old notary yields to the advances of a dashing soldier. To divert the husband’s attention, they manipulate a young clerk, Fortunio. But Fortunio loves the lady of a passionate love.

Who knows what love is? Alfred de Musset constantly brought into play all the ways to live it, burn from it or assuage it, inspiring so many composers. His LeChandelier had already appealed to Offenbach, as well as his Fantasio, because of its combination of humor and sincerity. During the Belle Époque, Messager was also drawn to this piece with the freedom he enjoyed through his reputation as a conductor. The freedom to produce a comic art form whose lightness is in harmony with its profundity.

In 1907 the premiere of Fortunio at the Opéra Comique was acclaimed by operetta aficionados and opera lovers alike. In 2009 this comédie lyrique inspired Denis Podalydès and Louis Langrée to devise a funny, elegant and magnificent production.

The Opéra Comique is glad to schedule it anew and end 2019 with a flourish thanks to outstanding performers for whom singing and acting originate in the same passion.

Biography

Born in Naples  in 1881, the son of artist Eduoardo Matania, Fortunino Matania studied at his father's studio, designing a soap advertisement at the age of 9 and exhibiting his first work at Naples Academy at 11. By the age of 14 he was helping his father produce illustrations for books and magazines. His talent was recognised by the editor of the Italian periodical  L'Illustrazione Italiania and Matania produced weekly illustrations for the magazine between 1895 and 1902.

At the age of 20, Matania began working in Paris   for Illustration Francaise and, in 1902, was invited to London to cover the Coronation of Edward VII  for The Graphic . Matania would subsequently cover every major event – marriage, christening, funeral and Coronation – of British royalty up to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth  in 1953.

In 1904, Matania joined the staff of The Sphere   where some of his most famous work was to appear, including his illustrations of the sinking of the Titanic  in 1912. Around 1906-1910 he painted the life in the lobby of the Roman Hotel Excelsior.

At the outbreak of the First World War  , Matania became a war artist   and was acclaimed for his graphic and realistic images of tr

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