The Improvisation of Poetry, 1750 – 1850
A database of commentaries on improvisational performance
A humorous fictional tale narrated by a German gentleman (Guglielmo), intended as proof that the works of Italian playwright Goldoni are not in fact exaggerated caricatures of Italian life. Guglielmo describes how his friend, an improvisatore, introduces him to an Italian marchesa who is as mellifluously beautiful as she is dull-witted and narcissistic. The two friends conclude that she is a fool.
In an article specifically focused on Taddei, Waiblinger discusses the poetical talents and education of Italian improvisatori, and names the former among the most skilled improvisatori of her time. Waiblinger provides written records of a number of Taddei’s improvised poems to illustrate the different poetic forms the improvisatrice commands, and to show how she incorporates the mandatory rhymes she is given by the audience.
Three short poems on Taddei, Sgricci, and relatively unknown Italian improvisatori of the lower classes are accompanied by Waiblinger’s detailed notes describing some of the performances he witnessed and references in the poems.
The first excerpt is a section from a letter Waiblinger wrote to a friend: Waiblinger admires Rosa Taddei’s ability to improvise good poetry without being distracted by her unruly and common audience, which threatens to debase her talents. The second excerpt is Waiblinger’s reproduction of an improvised poem in Latin, by an unnamed improvisatore.