Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710 - 1736): La serva padrona (The Servant Turned Mistress, 1733)
About This Piece
This piece is an opera buffa to a libretto by Gennaro Antonio Federico, after the play by Jacopo Angello Nelli. The opera was originally performed as two intermezzos between the acts of a larger serious opera (Il prigioner superbo / The Proud Prisoner). Eventually the two pieces were separated, and La serva padrona went on to enjoy fame throughout Europe for years after its premiere. La serva padrona is often seen as the quintessential piece that bridges the gap from the Baroque to the Classical period. Owing to its importance, over time it came to be known as more than just an intermezzo and was performed as a stand-alone work.
The Story
Uberto, an elderly bachelor, is angry and impatient with his maidservant, Serpina, because she has not brought him his chocolate today. Serpina has become so arrogant that she thinks she is the mistress of the household. Indeed, when Uberto calls for his hat, wig and coat, Serpina forbids him from leaving the house, adding that from then on he will have to obey her orders. Uberto thereupon orders Vespone to find him a woman to marry so that he can rid himself of Serpina.
Serpina convinces Vespone to trick Uberto into marrying her. She informs Uberto that she is to marry a military man named Tempesta. She will be leaving his home and apologizes for her behavior. Vespone, disguised as Tempesta, arrives and, without saying a word, demands 4,000 crowns for a dowry. Uberto refuses to pay such a sum. Tempesta threatens him to either pay the dowry or marry the girl himself. Uberto agrees to marry Serpina. Serpina and Vespone reveal their trick; but Uberto realizes that he has loved the girl all along. They will marry after all; and Serpina will now be the true mistress of the household.
The Cast
Uberto - Imre Ürmössy
Serpina - Éva Fehér
Vespone (mute role) - Artúr Vranyecz
Piano - Eszter Bojti
Scenery - Marianna Nikolics
Directed by Artúr Vranyecz
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710 - 1736): Livietta e Tracollo (Livietta and Tracollo, 1734)
About This Piece
This is two intermezzos in one, originally performed in Naples in 1734 between the acts of Pergolesi's opera seria Adriano in Siria.
The Story
There are only two singers, a woman disguised as a male peasant and a man dressed ludicrously as a pregnant beggar from Poland. In the first act, the woman Livietta apprehends and strips the disguise of the rascally thief Tracollo and threatens to send him to court. Tracollo begs for mercy and offers to marry Livietta, but she is thirsty for vengeance. In the second act -- the two acts were probably not performed consecutively -- Tracollo reappears disguised as an astrologer; Livietta feigns illness, Tracollo reveals his true love, and the two become engaged.
The absurdly disjunct voices of a soprano in man's garb and a basso in woman's attire spark the recitativo comedy. But the funniest moments come in the arias
The Cast
Livietta - Éva Fehér
Tracollo - Imre Ürmössy
Fulvia (Livietta's Friend; mute role) - Anna Vékony
Faccenda (Servant of Tracollo; mute role) - Artúr Vranyecz
Piano - Eszter Bojti
Scenery - Marianna Nikolics
Directed by Artúr Vranyecz
Gaetano Donizetti (1797 - 1848): Rita (Rita, ou Le mari battu / Rita, or The Beaten Husband, 1841, 1860)
About This Piece
This is an opéra comique in one act, composed to a French libretto by Gustave Vaëz. The opera, a domestic comedy consisting of eight musical numbers connected by spoken dialogue, was completed in 1841 under its original title Deux hommes et une femme (Two Men and a Woman). According to Vaëz, Donizetti completed the score in eight days. Never performed in Donizetti's lifetime.
The Story
At an inn belonging to Rita, the tyrannical and abusive wife of the timid Peppe, the couple finds that their lives are thrown into turmoil with the unexpected arrival of Gaspar, Rita's first husband, whom all believed to have drowned. In reality, Gaspar had run away to Canada. Believing that Rita has died in a fire, Gaspar has returned to obtain her death certificate so that he can remarry. When the two meet, Gaspar tries to run away. Peppe, however, sees this as an opportunity to free himself from Rita's slaps because Gaspar is her legitimate husband. The two men agree to a game such that whoever wins has to remain with Rita. Both try to lose, but ultimately the winner is Gaspar. Yet Rita, who had suffered frequently from the hand of Gaspar, refuses to return to be his wife. Gaspar, pretending he has lost the hand, induces Peppe to declare his love for Rita and his firm intention to remain as her husband. The crafty Gaspar, having achieved his purpose, takes his leave from the reconciled couple.
The Cast
Rita - Éva Fehér
Beppe - Péter Balczó
Gasparo - Imre Ürmössy
Bartolo (spoken role) and other mute roles- Artúr Vranyecz
Piano - Eszter Bojti
Scenery - Marianna Nikolics
Directed by Artúr Vranyecz