Title   Boccaccio Composer   Franz von Suppé Librettists   F. Zell and Richard Genée Genre   Light opera in 3 acts. First performance   1 February 1879, Carl-Theater, Vienna Time of action   Florence, 14th century. Place of action   Square before church of Santa Maria Novella In front of houses of Lotteringhi and Lambertuccio In the palace of the Duke of Florence. Main parts   Giovanni Boccaccio (mezzo)soprano Fiametta, his beloved soprano Prince Pietro tenor Leonetto 2nd tenor Lambertuccio, grower of olives 2nd tenor Peronella, his wife comic contralto Lotteringhi, cooper comic tenor Isabella, his wife soprano Scalza, barber baritone Beatrice, his wife soprano Prominence of chorus   Chorus very prominent. Orchestra   2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns,            2 trumpets, 3 trombones, kettle-drums, percussion, strings.. Special demands   The title-rôle is written for soprano, the students must be sung by women as well. There is a separate (small) chorus of beggars. In the second act the scenery must divide the stage in two, so that persons in one part are unaware of what is going on in the other part. Full score and orchestral parts   Available. Level   Rather taxing work, especially for the (many) soloists. Length   Three acts. Total duration: 2½ hours. Music   Beautifully written work. Contains a number of well-known tunes. Story   The libretto combines a number of tales from Boccaccio's Decameron. Comic highlights: the bewitched tree and the lover in the wine-barrel. In the end Boccaccio is united to his beloved Fiametta. Costumes   Town's people, courtiers. Medieval.