Vincenzo Salemme

Ogni promessa è debito is the title of my new play, which tells the story of Benedetto Croce, a 60-year-old widower and owner of the pizzeria 'Croce e Delizia'.
During a dramatic sea crossing with his children Rebecca and Marco, and clumsy handyman Roberto Cardella, Benedetto, in desperation, makes a vow to the patron saint of his village, Saint Anne, promising her a donation in exchange for salvation.

Their SOS is picked up by the coastguard and Benedetto's appeal, even broadcast on local TV, moves the entire community. Once back home safe and sound, however, Benedetto finds himself besieged by those who claim the right to that promise: the parish priest Father Cristoforetto, the mayor of Bacoli, family members who have re-emerged from years away and others. All vying for the money destined for Sant'Anna.

Benedict, armed only with common sense and a certain amount of scepticism, tries to resist fanaticism and rampant greed, until a resounding twist - orchestrated by the saint herself - overturns his every certainty.

This new opera is an opera buffa: a comedy full of comedy, but also of grotesque cues and bitter reflections on the eternal conflict between honesty and opportunism, faith and interest, need and greed.