Chiara e Serafina was the first collaboration between Donizetti and Felice Romani, the most accomplished Italian librettist of the era. It was also the first opera which Donizetti composed for the Teatro alla Scala of Milan, and could have been a big break for the young composer, who had not yet earned a wide audience or critical acclaim. But Felice Romani was notorious for taking on more work than he could handle, and in this instance he had already agreed to write the libretto for an opera for Mercadante, also for autumn opera season at La Scala. He did not get Donizetti his libretto until October 3, 1822. Rehearsals were scheduled to begin on October 15, and the opera premiered on October 26. Donizetti composed the score to Chiara e Serafina in twelve days, by working through the night. Donizetti himself predicted that the opera would fail. He wrote to his friend and teacher Simone Mayr, inviting him to the premiere. But he told him that if he came, he should bring a requiem, for Donizetti was sure to be slaughtered. The libretto is based on a French play by de Pixerecourt. The operas highlights include a storm scene, and Chiara's aria "Queste romite splende." The reviews to the opening were bad, but the opera did not completely fail. It lasted for 12 performances, and when it was staged eight years later, again at La Scala, it was a success.

© Rita Laurance, All Music Guide