he history of Venice is rich with characters and stories admirably suited to the melodramatic world of opera. Casanova, for example, was one of the city's most famous inhabitants, and was eventually imprisoned here for his lascivious exploits. Another Venetian son was the cook Basio, whose delicious meat dishes were rumoured to contain an unusual ingredient. Basio was beheaded when a customer at his restaurant found a human finger.

And then there are the events of 1750, which began with the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro, Spanish aristocrats fallen on hard times. Their daughter Casilda and the Duke's Attendant Luiz were foolishly carrying on a secret romance, almost certainly doomed to end in heartbreak. Not least because Casilda had been married at birth to the infant Prince of Barataria.

This Prince was kidnapped from his Foster-mother Inez by Don Alhambro del Bolero, the Grand Inquisitor, and conveyed to Venice, where he grew up as a Gondlier: one of two brothers Marco and Giuseppe Palmieri. The Duke and Duchess had brought their daughter to claim her husband and turn their fortunes around.

But which was he, and what were they to do about the fact that both Gondoliers were recently married, to contadine Gianetta and Tessa?

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