After leaving conservatory in 1854, Filippo Marchetti (1831-1902) immediately set to work composing for the theater. After three successful opera stagings in fifteen years, true, lasting success was finally achieved in 1869 in collaboration with librettist Carlo D’Ormeville and Victor Hugo’s play, Ruy Blas. It was performed in all of Italy’s large and small theaters. During the composer’s lifetime, it reached the most distant shores of five continents, becoming popular in the UK and especially in the US. This 1998 performance, on Bongiovanni, is its first commercial recording.